12 March 2010
Vibrant past and a bright future for the Methodist Church in Britain
Re-telling the Methodist story will strengthen the mission of
the Church, says Heritage Officer Jo Hibbard.
The Church is launching the Methodist Heritage Handbook at the Best
of Britain & Ireland travel show at London Olympia, 17-20
March.
"All our sites are linked by one story and by a shared history and
inspiration. This is not only the story of the growth of a
worldwide Christian movement; it also illustrates the relationship
and relevance of faith to spiritual, social and economic
development over the past 300 years, today and for the future,"
said Jo. "Through promoting Methodist Heritage, we are refocusing
on the story of the Methodist Church in the past to support the
mission of the Church in the future."
Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch, presenter of the BBC's highly
successful The History of Christianity, endorsed the new guide,
saying, "Methodism has been at the heart of Protestant Christianity
worldwide since the eighteenth century - far beyond the churches
which call themselves Methodist. Without the new departures in
Christian life inspired by John Wesley, the movements which
encompass Pentecostalism, the Salvation Army and the many
independent Churches of Africa and Asia would not exist in anything
like their present form. It is a task of global importance to
preserve the places and experiences in Britain which triggered this
extraordinary variety of Christianities."
The free full-colour Handbook offers readers a guide to visiting
100 historic sites, including the Old Rectory at Epworth in
Lincolnshire, which was the childhood home of John and Charles
Wesley, and the first ever Methodist building at the New Room in
Bristol. The New Room was built by John Wesley as a place for
preaching and education, a dispensary and also as a lodging for
himself and his itinerant preachers. John Wesley travelled around
250,000 miles on his nationwide preaching tours. Many of the sites
included in the booklet are linked to this journey and to the
development of Methodism in the 19th Century.
Jo said: "Our Methodist Heritage sites have never had much central
support or promotion, and yet they represent a huge asset to the
Church's mission. Now we have a Committee to give oversight and
encourage collaboration and an Officer to access advice and support
fundraising. Every Methodist Heritage place, artefact or archive
has a unique part of the story of Methodism to tell, and we have
over 100 historic gems for visitors to discover."
Details of how to order your free copy of the Heritage Handbook,
visit www.methodist.org.uk/heritage.