History of RBP 232 'Epworth Temperance'

The significance of the name "Epworth" in the Methodist Church.

The significance of the name "Epworth" in Methodist circles. There are two or three names, which stand out in the history of the Church. Another one is "Aldersgate", because it was in a little meeting room in Aldersgate Street in London (I think in the Barbican area) that John Wesley was converted on 24th May 1738. Hence the Methodist Manse in Enniskillen for instance is known as "Aldersgate" as is our HQ building in Belfast - Aldersgate House, just opposite the Crescent Church on University Road.

Epworth was the little village where John's father Rev Samuel Wesley was the rector of the Church of England parish. It is situated in rural Lincolnshire, and although the rectory in which he was born was gutted by fire (of which more in a moment), the rebuilt rectory is still standing and is a popular place of "pilgrimage" for many a Methodist - just to see where their founder was born and raised.

John was born in 1703 (17th June) - one of an eventual nineteen children!! Only ten survived to adulthood - three sons and seven daughters. His mother's name was Susannah.

When John was just five the rectory was gutted by fire. It had been an old building with a thatched roof and so burned very readily. This was in February 1709. When the roll was being called in the garden as the house burnt, it was discovered that little John (Jacky) was still upstairs and it was by now impossible to get to him through the smoke and flames. He was spotted at an upstairs window looking for help and escape and was rescued by some men standing on each others shoulders. Susannah saw this as God's hand on her "Jacky" in a special way and that God had a special purpose for his life. So it turned out to be, and John himself, as a grown man saw himself as "a brand plucked out of the fire" (Zechariah 3:2).

And so the name has become part of Methodist history, with many buildings being named after it - e.g. the Methodist Manses in both Tandragee and Armagh and of course Epworth Methodist Church in Portadown. The main publishing company of the church was also called the Epworth Press until a few years ago. Now it's simply Methodist Publishing House.

If you go to Epworth which is on the Yorkshire Lincolnshire border (and there are those who would argue which side) as you say there is no trace of the original manse but the Red Lion hotel is built on the site and did until the 1980's have a small plaque on the connecting corridor between the hotel and the bar stating that this was the site if the home of the Wesleys.

There is a strong family connection in the villages in the area although not much is in evidence in Epworth itself.
As a side interest in the nearby villages down as far ar Ranskill in Nottinghamshire approx 15 miles there are the family homes of several of the Pilgrim Fathers who settled in the U.S. The Bradfords for one. Quite an interesting area for research and if anyone wishes to come over the Brethren of L.O.L. 33 Doncaster, will do their best to make them welcome

The Red Lion and the Mechanics Institute reading rooms are opposite. The reading rooms are an invaluable source of local information going back over a couple of hundred years or even more.

Back to R.B.P. 232 links and banner picture