United Methodist History

Recovering the African American Heritage of The United Methodist Church

by Elliott Wright
3/2/10: Interracial origins of American Methodism are being rediscovered and celebrated as a fitting reminder of the original Methodist proclamation of God's inclusive love.

American Methodist Anniversary:
From Baltimore into the Life Blood of a Nation

by Elliott Wright and Kevin Nelson
1/4/10: 225 years ago the first American Methodist preachers were ordained at the Christmas Conference.

Service Marks 225th Anniversary of a Defining Moment in Methodist History

by Elliott Wright
11/11/09: The meeting of Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury led to the formation of Methodism.

Historical Resources

Read original Wesley documents, United Methodist Women's study materials on John Wesley: Holiness of Heart and Life. We also make available free graphics from the history of Methodism, and more.

Quién Es el Pueblo Llamado Metodista? por S.T. Kimbrough, Jr.
Las iglesias llamadas "Metodistas" deben su nombre a dos clérigos anglicanos de la Inglaterra del siglo XVIII: Juan (1703-1791) y Carlos Wesley (1707-1788). La Iglesia de Inglaterra se estableció como iglesia nacional durante el reinado de Enrique VIII tras su ruptura con la iglesia de Roma. Es por eso que, en realidad, las raíces de los "Metodistas" se extienden a través de la Iglesia de Inglaterra y el catolicismo romano a la misma iglesia del Nuevo Testamento.

United Methodist Women Historical Photos
Photos of early leaders, Assemblies, and more.

United Methodist Women historical timeline

Africa

Martha Drummer: a Woman of Courage by Brenda Wilkinson
An African American assigned to serve in Angola by the Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1906, Drummer served over a span of 20 years.

Mt. Chiremba: Where Africa University Began by Chomingwen Pond

The Spirit of Amistad--in The United Methodist Church (Sierra Leone, US) by Darrell Reeck

United Methodist History and Sierra Leone

United States

The Advance At 50 by Christie R. House
In the aftermath of World War II, the United States as a nation raised a collective sigh of relief as the business of getting on with life resumed. Church leaders and parishioners alike decided that something had to be done about the millions of people left destitute and mission institutions left shattered by the war....

An Irrepressible Woman Preacher (United Brethren)
Gertrude Pettibon's favorite hymn was "The Church's One Foundation Is Jesus Christ Her Lord." This she lived by and this she preached.

"For All People in Every Land": A Brief History of Multiculturalism in The Methodist and United Methodist Churches by Mary Beth Coudal

Ten Women's Mission History Books: By My Spirit, In The Middle Of Tomorrow, Legacy For The Future, The Light Along The Way, My Calling To Fulfill, Speaking Out In The Public Space, They Went Out Not Knowing, This Is Our Song, To A Higher Glory, With Unveiled Face

Other Web Sites

200 Years of United Methodism: An Illustrated History: Online Book that includes:

The Four Tides of United Methodism
The Tide of Pietism, 1766 - 1783
The Tide of Nationalism, 1784 - 1860
A Tidal Wave: The Civil War,
1861 - 1865
The Tide of Idealism, 1866 - 1918
The Tide of Pluralism, 1919 - 1984

200 Years of United Methodism: An Illustrated History: Gallery of Photographs

Biographical Index: The index compiled by John Rylands University Library of Manchester includes lay people and ministers/preachers from all the major British Methodist denominations since Wesley's day. It also contains information about people who were not necessarily Methodists, but who had interaction with them and are therefore mentioned in the collections.

A Brief Timeline of The United Methodist Church and the American Heritage

Barratt's Chapel and Museum Barratt's Chapel in Delaware is part of the early history of Methodism.

Bibliography of United Methodist History

Biography of John Wesley

Christian History of Stoke-on-Trent: The Methodist Revivals

Complete List of United Methodist Bishops

A Chronology: British Religion and Philosophy in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries

Doctrinal Heritage (from the United Methodist Book of Discipline)

Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task, including the Articles of Religion (from the United Methodist Book of Discipline)

Louisiana Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church Archives and History

Methodist History Research Links, aids for Kansas, United States and United Kingdom research

Methodist Archives and History Center at Drew University Madison, NJ

Methodist Archives at John Rylands University Library of Manchester

Ministerial Genealogical Research Request
The General Commission on Archives and History can perform a search for genealogical information on ordained ministers within the United Methodist tradition

Missionary Research Request
The General Commission on Archives and History can perform a search for genealogical information on an overseas missionary in the United Methodist tradition

Newfoundland and Labrador, Methodism in

Our History, excerpts from The United Methodist Story, Our History, Our Beliefs & Our Mission