Letter from John Wesley to Mr Cricket

Letter from John Wesley to Mr Cricket
Letter from John Wesley to Mr Cricket

1750-1800 / Document / John Wesley / Letter / Ministers, Preachers & Associates / Paper
Ink on paper
Page one of two, 10th February 1783

A letter written by John Wesley to one of his preachers in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1783.

The letter contains advice how to inject vigour into the Londonderry Circuit and admonishes the recipient to show leadership. Wesley compares it to Barnard Castle:" Many years ago, the Society at Barnardcastle (sic), as large as that at Derry, was remarkably dead. (…) advised them to keep a day of Fasting and Prayers (&) a flame broke out & spread thro'ut ye Circuit.."

The letter goes to show that not all areas took to Methodism straightaway. Structure to the worship or 'method' was an important aspect, but preachers also needed to be leaders, with a strong guiding hand.