Recently, while on holiday in Pembrokeshire, I passed a plaque in the town of Haverfordwest dedicated to the memory of the pioneer Methodist evangelist, John Wesley. My family and I have been on holiday in this area each year for over 30 years so I must have passed it many times, but in 2017 I noticed it for the first time [1]. Easy to miss; perhaps easier to miss than John Wesley would have been in 1790!
The plaque reads:
Near this spot on August 16th 1790 REV. JOHN WESLEY, M.A. then in his eighty-eighth year and on the last of his fourteen visits to the town PREACHED to the people of Haverfordwest. His text was, “The Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark, 1:15
The early Methodists were called enthusiasts, a derogatory term in their day. I have used the word to represent the sort of person whose Christian beliefs are infectious so that they pass it on to another person, some of whom also become enthusiasts. Religion then spreads like a disease, typical of church growth in times of revival. If the church in the UK is to stop its current decline and grow again then it needs revival. And it needs enthusiasts of the sort in Wesley’s day. It made me think about what sort of lessons we can learn from his day that would help the contemporary church.
The Time
Wesley preached through the 18th century. For much of the century, churches were in decline, with sparse attendance and absentee clergy. Buildings were in disrepair. On one of his previous visits to Pembrokeshire, May 1781, Wesley noted of St David’s Cathedral:
The cathedral has been a large and stately fabric, far superior to any other in Wales. But a great part of it is fallen down already, and the rest is hastening into ruin [2,3]
The effect of the Reformation and the Puritans was long gone. The Christian religion was mocked by rich and poor alike, whose preference was for entertainment and alcohol. In many ways the time was similar to 21st century Britain – Christianity looked as if it was on the way out.
Wesley was not daunted by the situation – he, and the other Methodists, saw it as a great opportunity to spread the gospel and glorify God. Enthusiasts do not look at the situation, but to the God who has commissioned them to make disciples despite the situation. 21st Century secular Britain is a great opportunity for enthusiasts!
The Man
Wesley never stopped preaching, he never retired. This was his 88th year and he still saw it as his mission to convert the lost and buildup the Methodist societies. He travelled extensively. Before his final tour of Pembrokeshire in August 1790, he had travelled from Lincolnshire and afterwards visited Bristol. [2,4].
He was persistent. This was his 14th visit. When he started there was no Methodist cause in the town. By his final visit, there was a flourishing church and education among the children and poor [5]
He laboured despite poor health. On January 1sthe wrote
I am now an old man, decayed from head to foot. My eyes are dim; my right-hand shakes much; my mouth is hot and dry every morning; I have a lingering fever almost every day; my motion is weak and slow. However, blessed be God, I do not slack my labour: I can preach and write still. [2]
Enthusiasts have a zeal for the work of the gospel that need not waver with age, health or the passage of time. The UK church has many former enthusiasts from the evangelical and charismatic renewal of the late 20thcentury who have given up the fight and fallen asleep spiritually. The lesson of Wesley is that they can be enthusiasts again and spread revival until their last breath.
The Culture
Wesley was preaching in Wales, at this time predominately Welsh-speaking. His normal practice of preaching to the poor and uneducated could not be used as they could not speak English, the only language Wesley could use [6]. Fortunately, there was a separate Welsh-speaking Methodist connection that ministered to the poor in Wales.
Wesley, not put off by the culture, changed his strategy. Instead of preaching directly to the poor, he preached in places like Haverfordwest where there were a number of wealthy families, who could speak both English and Welsh. He then inspired them to teach the poor, especially the children, and bring them to faith. One member of the Haverfordwest church was a Miss Catherine Warren, a member of the local gentry who Wesley corresponded with regularly to encourage her in her work [5]. Wesley expected conversions from all levels of society, culture or class were no handicap. All were expected to change, rich and poor alike. Then the culture changed accordingly.
Enthusiasts are not put off by the culture of society. Whether it’s atheists, humanists, Muslims, or “Diversity” and LGBT ideologies, enthusiasts expect conversions that change behaviour and lead to cultural changes that reflect God’s kingdom.
The Method – He Preached
Wesley’s text that day was “repent and believe the gospel”, one he had no doubt preached many times. His message was simple and direct, sin is the problem, and Jesus is the answer. His was no message of acceptance and inclusion, popular in much of today’s church, but one of justification and transformation. No one had to stay the way they were – through repentance and faith, they could be put right with God immediately, and become what He designed them to be. Enthusiasts preach directly to the heart of the problem.
Wesley preached. He was not a social activist, though he did much social good. He did not organise discussions or debates, perhaps where a group of people could decide what is true. Though no doubt his preaching left many people discussing and debating! He preached, that is, he took a text and explained it, persuading people to obey its implications. He did not do it to be popular. Preaching was no more popular in his day than in ours; Wesley was sometimes stoned and often verbally abused. He preached because Jesus commanded it. Enthusiasts obey the command and preach.
Wesley preached everywhere. He did not wait for people to come but went to them. Enthusiasts are not locked away in church buildings, but out and about, speaking to people whether ones and twos or in crowds.
Wesley preached the Bible; he had confidence in its message and in the truth of its words. Recently I was at a church where the minister read out some words of Jesus from Matthew’s gospel,“And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector”. The minister then said, “This couldn’t have been the words of Jesus. Something must have got lost in translation between him and Matthew!” Sadly that lack of confidence in scripture has been common in the church for a few generations and has undoubtedly assisted its decline [7]. Enthusiasts have confidence in the truth of scripture, so much that they live by it, and must bring it to the attention of all they meet.
If Wesley was around today, it is not clear what he would have made of a plaque in his name. But he would have recognised society, the plight of sinners, and the state of the church. No doubt he would still be an enthusiast and behaved exactly as that day in Haverfordwest. Today’s enthusiasts need only to follow his example
References & Notes
[1] The plaque was unveiled on the 18th of May 1956 at the town’s grammar school. It was later moved to the town’s library, the date not known. http://www.vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?webpage=ST&record=gbwa067
Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society, vol 30, June 1956 https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/whs/30-6.pdf
[2] John Wesley’s Journal Abridged:
http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/Wesley_Journal.pdf
Full Works:
http://www.godrules.net/library/wesley/wesley.htm
[3] As a result of the 18th revivals started by the Methodists, all the UK Christian denominations experienced revival in the first half of the 19th century. Thus, in the 50 years following Wesley’s 1781 visit to St David’s, the Cathedral was rebuilt by a now flourishing congregation, as were most of the decaying parish churches in Britain.
Of course, there was revival and church growth among the Methodists from the 1730s onwards. But it took to the end of the century before it spilt over into the other denominations in a big enough way to repair the damage of their long period of decline and neglect.
[4] John Wesley kept a private diary separate from his published journals. Although his journal makes no mention of the 1790 Wales tour, his diary gives the following details for Haverfordwest:
Sunday 15th 5 Prayed, letters ; 8 tea, conversed, letter, chaise ; 10 St. Daniel’s, prayer, Acts xi. 36 ! meditated ; 1 1 Rowl[ ], communion ; 12.30 writ narrative, dinner ; 3 [ ], boat, chaise, Hav[erfor]d ; 5 tea ; 5.30 read, Mark i. 15 ! the bands, visited, supper, prayer; 9.15.
Monday 16th 4 Tea, conversed, prayer ; 5 chaise ; 8.30 Tavernsp[ite], tea ; 9.30 chaise, prayed; 12.30 Carm[arthen] ; i at T. Taylor’s, writ narrative, dinner, the preachers, letters ; 4 Isai. xxxv. 8 ! on business ; 7.30 supper, conversed, prayer ; 9.30 lay down ; 11.30 sleep.
The Journal of the Rev John Wesley
The square bracketed letters indicate missing letters from his abbreviated diary entries. In some cases, the missing letters cannot be determined, hence [ ].
He actually preached in Haverfordwest on Sunday, August 15th. He left the town on the 16th. Thus the plaque records his last day in the town, rather than the day he preached.
See also “John Wesley in the Cardiff Area – Part 2: 1747-1790” by David Pike for extensive material on Wesley’s time in Wales. http://daibach-welldigger.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/wesley-in-cardiff-area-part-2-1747-1790.html
[5] Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society, vol 30, June 1956 https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/whs/30-6.pdf In 1785 John Wesley wrote to a Miss Catherine Warren, a lady from a renowned local family, who had the care of 50 children to encourage her to continue her good work. Spiritual progress was also expected in this work. Wesley wrote in his journal of these children: “Several of them are much awakened, and the behaviour of all is so composed that they are a pattern to the whole congregation.”
There was no Wesleyan Methodist church in Haverfordwest in 1769. But by 1782 it was established and thriving, mainly due to the enthusiasm of Miss Warren.
Bulletin of the Wesley Historical Society in Wales, Number 1, P76, 2011. http://www.whsinwales.org.uk/BULLETIN/Bulletin_2011/WHS_BULLETIN_2011.pdf
[6] Haverfordwest Society: “Wesley enjoyed coming to south Pembrokeshire because he knew that it was one of the few areas in Wales where his preaching would be understood.” http://www.haverfordwestcivicsociety.org.uk/towntrail/content/pg26.html
See also
http://www.whsinwales.org.uk/BULLETIN/Bulletin_2011/WHS_BULLETIN_2011.pdf
[7] See the series of articles on church growth and decline on the Presbyterian Church of Wales as illustrative of the post 19thcentury decline of the church. This decline is attributed to a fall in conversions, caused by a lack of revival, rooted in a mixture of institutionalism, rationalism and liberalism, which undermined the church’s confidence in Scripture and the God who reveals himself through it.
- Blog: Church Decline Caused by Lack of Conversions
- Blog: Church Decline caused by Lack of Revival
- Blog: Why Revivals Stopped in the UK
Tags: Enthusiasts, John Wesley, Preaching
Like many Christians today, I praise John Wesley's utter single-mindedness in his commitment to the work that God called him to do. Most of us know we fall far, far short, which is humbling. Embarrassing, in fact.
However, it occurs to me that Wesley's goals were aided by a way life that few religious leaders today would promote.
These are some of the problems that come to mind:
– Celibacy is now unfashionable
– Parents/spouses who evangelise full-time are often seen as neglectful of their families
– Evangelistic families (rather than eager individuals) are rare
– Wesley's low level of expenditure would alienate many modern families
– Wesley didn't have a busy 9-5 (+ overtime) job alongside his evangelism
– He made his living from writing, which often pays poorly today
– Churches are desperate for money; do they want intelligent members who deliberately impoverish themselves?
– Wesley focused on the working classes, but modern British evangelism aims at the middle class
– Ministry in struggling areas today often leads to lower returns, and can be tough on evangelists' families
– Urban evangelism today faces people of other religions. Wesley didn't have much success there
– Some argue that evangelism today has to be friendship-based rather than preaching-based.
I'm not denying that the Holy Spirit can answer these (and other) problems. But modern Christians are clearly ambivalent about John Wesley; we admire his zeal, but as a role model he's highly problematic for us. Of course, that may be our fault.
Thank you for your comments, which were really helpful. I have put my response in a new blog post.