“A JOURNEY
BACK TO MY ROOTS”
My Journal and Reflection as
Scholar-Participant of the 2018 Wesley Pilgrimage in England, July 8-22, 2018
By
Rev. Jeric C. Cortado
Southern
Philippines Methodist College, Inc. Kidapawan City, Philippines
The
Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church has chosen 35 young
leaders of the UMC all over the world to participate the Wesley Pilgrimage in
England from July 9 to 19, 2018. I am one of them! And I am grateful to Rev.
Dr. Steven Manskar and Rev. Dr, Paul Chilcote who facilitated the activity and
for their lectures, together with Ms. Melanie Gordon and Rev. Victoria Rebeck;
to Prof. Framer Cristy P. Mella, President of the SPMCI for allowing me to
participate; to Bishop Rodolfo A. Juan for his blessing; and to the people
called United Methodists who supported me in this journey. My deepest gratitude
to the following: Engr. Edwin and Mrs. Joyce Subillaga, Mrs. Marissa Estampa,
Dr. Gloria Redoble, Rev. Patria Agustin-Smith, Mrs. Betty Cortado-Wilson, Mrs.
Crisanta Riingen, Ms. Earlie Pasion-Bautista, Mr. Eddie & Mrs. Juvy
Cortado, Mr. Edward Cosmiano, Mr. & Mrs. Romeo Valdez, Mrs. Alma
Bella-Respicio, Bishop Pete Torio, and to Rev. Dr. Romeo del Rosario a good
mentor of mine during my seminary years who supported me financially for my
travel expenses; to the Makilala Multi-Purpose Cooperative who allowed me to loan
for my plane tickets with low interest; to my wife Dss. Cristine and my
daughter Sofia Rev for their prayers, understanding, and love.
The
following books and articles I’ve read and reviewed prior to and during the
pilgrimage help me a lot to make my journey following the trail of John Wesley
and the people called Methodists in England more meaningful and exciting.
1. Michael J. COYNER, et al, A Year with John Wesley and Our Methodist
Values, USA: Discipleship Resources, 1989.
2. Rupert E. DAVIES, Methodism, London: Epworth Press, 1976.
3. Ensor, David, 250 Years of Methodism in Salisbury, UK:
Salisbury Methodist Church, 2009.
4. Mary GREETHAM, Susanna Wesley: Mother of Methodism,
London: Woodspring Resource Centre, 1988.
5. Richard P. HEITZENRATER, Wesley and the People Called Methodists,
USA: Abingdon Press, 1995.
6. Donald L. KLINE, Susanna Wesley: God’s Catalyst for Revival,
USA: The CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 1980.
7. Herbert Boyd MCGONIGLE, Epworth: The Cradle of Methodism, United
Kingdom: Moorleys Print & Publishing, 2014.
8. Charles A. SAUER, A Pocket Story of John Wesley, USA:
Discipleship Resources, 2000.
9. Barrie TABRAHAM, The Making of Methodism, Great Britain:
Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wiltshire, 2000.
10. Howard A. SNYDER, The Radical Wesley & Pattern for Church
Renewal, USA: Inter-Varsity Press, 1980.
11. David Lowes WATSON, Covenant Discipleship: Christian Formation
through Mutual Accountability, USA: Discipleship Ministries, 1996.
July 8, 2018
(Sunday). I
arrived at Sarum College, Salisbury, England successfully after a long travel
via bus, taxi, plane, and coach. I am thankful for my kababayan I’ve met in the
Heathrow International Airport, London for giving the tips, the do’s and don’ts
while staying at England. An OWF employed as nurse in one of the Hospital of
England, guided me towards the Central Bus Station bound for Salisbury. A
Filipino couple employed also in one of the Hospital in England, offered me a
coffee and bread, and guided me also on how to go to Salisbury through coach
(bus). I am warmly welcomed by the hospitality team of Sarum College who lead me
to my room (# 310). Tired but inspired with the people I’ve met the way of my
journey from Kidapawan City to Davao International Airport, to Ninoy Aquino
International Airport, Philippines, to Heathrow International Airport, London,
to Central Bus Station of London, to bus station of Southhampton, England and
finally to Sarum College, Salisbury, England. God is so good.
July 9, 2018
(Monday). We
visited the Salisbury Methodist Church (a British Methodist) located at St.
Edmunds Church Street, Salisbury, southern part of England.
John Wesley visited the place 40
times that became the first official Methodist Society in the southern England
in 1748. John Wesley first preaching in one of the worship services of the
society was in September 6, 1750. In 1758, the faithful members of the
Methodist Society in Salisbury purchased a lot at St Edmunds Church Street,
where the current sanctuary is located and build. In 1759, the said building opened
as preaching house was where Francis Asbury appointed by John Wesley to
administer. Most of the members then of the society came from the poor,
oppressed, marginalized, exploited, deprived but struggling people. Thus, later
became an extra ordinary people leading the evangelism and growth of the
Methodism in Salisbury. These humble people developed as lay preachers, lay
leaders, Sunday school teachers, and missionaries of the Methodist society. With
this experiences, the Methodist Society of Salisbury then gained a reputation of
Methodism in England as movement that enable person committed to serve God, honed
to be mission-oriented in the daily walks of life, in solidarity and in giving
oneself to one another, journeying towards the transformation of the world
where the fullness of life experience by all. Thus, Methodism is a way of life,
a life that is Compassionate, doing Holy things, Inspiring, Spirit-filled,
having the potentials to Transform
lives. Methodism is a way of life, a life that is CHRIST.
At
7:30 in the evening, Rev. Dr. Paul W. Chilcote[1]
gave a lecture on “Renewal in the Wesleyan Spirit” held at the Cavell Room of
Sarum College. He pointed out that Methodism is a movement of renewal, a
renewing force within the Church of England, committed to prove in experience
what the church professed in doctrine. He discussed his observation of the Church
during the time of John Wesley and during our time.
John Wesley
tried to renew the Church to its original purposes of existence passionately
lives out the transformative apostolic
traditions and the great commission of Jesus Christ, thus incarnate the love of God, made practical
the professed doctrines and mission of the Church, in solidarity with the poor, oppressed, marginalized, exploited,
deprived but struggling people towards the fullness of life. The Church should
be freed from privatized leadership
and program components, wherein the leadership and administrative
responsibilities in all the aspects of the Church confined only to the ordained
and the lay people are merely spectators. Preserving the fixed rules and
hierarchy of authority and forget the distinctive being and calling of the
Church. It should be freed from individualism and institutional, that being a
Christian is an individual matter and is not essentially bound to life with
others, and imitating the organizational structures and management of
profitable corporations confined in the bureaucratic pressures. Thus, the
Church consciously or unconsciously hides the hunger of the people for companionship
and community, overlooked the status of the body and the spirit of the people, and
narrowed with the fixed rules and hierarchy of authority. The Church should be freed from being traditional, in a sense that the Church
lost from its purpose of existence and from its understanding of the tradition.
The apostolic tradition and ministry passed on to the Church is to be
contextual in doing the ministry. What the Church inherited from our
fore-parents of faith was how to become proactive of the realities of the
times, and how to live out faith in our context. Moreover, the Church should be
redeemed from being separated from
the people by having a big gap between the lay people and the clergy. Though,
the authority to preside the sacraments is only for the clergy but to become
sacramental is for everybody’s calling either clergy or lay. In our
understanding, sacraments are collective celebration of clergy and lay making
the grace of God visible to them, through them, and with them in the unity of
the Spirit of God poured out upon them that made them empowered to preach good
news to the poor, enlightenment, freedom and liberation, provide sanctuary, and
the realization of the fullness of life. The Church should be sacrament of
God’s grace and God’s liberating acts.
As
pointed out by Rev. Dr. Paul W. Chilcote about John Wesley’s assessments, that
the Church is in the PITS (P.I.T.S) or in the depths of despair. So, the Church
needs to be renewed in the Spirit of God, thus, needs TIPS (T.I.P.S) or
reminders, guidance or instructions for renewal living in the power of God’s
love for a transformed and transforming spirituality. And in the emergence and
the development of the Methodist Societies, the TIPS made Methodism a
phenomenal faith community throughout the world, that claimed by John Wesley as
his parish.
July 10, 2018
(Tuesday). We
visited Oxford, England. The coach (bus) from Salisbury dropped us at the
Oxford Coach Park, in front of the Oxford Castle and Prison located at New
Road, Oxford.
The Oxford Castle and Prison has
significance in the life of John and Charles Wesley and the people called
Methodists. The place where John, Charles, and the people called Methodists
launched their first prison ministry. It was August 1730 when they agreed to
visit at least weekly the debtors and condemned lawbreakers in Castle Prison,
and they were able to extend ministry to the persons incarcerated in the jail
at the North Gate in December 1739, as suggested by their colleague William
Morgan.
Then
we walk through the New Inn Hall Street where the First Methodist Meeting House
in Oxford is located and held in 1783, a plaque on the wall commemorates John
Wesley preached there on 14th of July 1783, then continue towards Wesley
Memorial Methodist Church, opened for worship in February 1818. Rev. Dr. Martin
Wellings, Minister of the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church gave a lecture on
“The Holy Club and Oxford Methodist”, after a refreshment offered by them to
us.
Tracing back to the time of John
Wesley, from Charterhouse, London having obtained scholarship He went up to
Christ Church College at Oxford for his undergraduate or bachelor education in
June 1720 and finished in 1724 with solid academic reputation. The Christ
Church College was the largest college constituted the University of Oxford at
that time. In the 19th day of September 1725, he was ordained deacon
by Bishop Potter. Some accounts said that prior to his ordination, after
reading one of the books of Jeremy Taylor, Rule and Exercise of Holy Living and
Holy Dying published in1650, began journaling to record and measures the
progress of his spiritual life journey. He was elected as fellow of Lincoln
College, Oxford in March 1726, and served as tutor of Greek, Logic, and
Philosophy, and in following year (1727) received his Master of Arts degree.
John Wesley’s teaching at Lincoln was interrupted when he responded the request
of help for help. He served as curate (assistant to his father) for two years
at Wroot and ordained priest in September 22, 1728. It was September 1729, when John Wesley
returned to his teaching ministry at Lincoln College, Oxford and got acquainted
with the group organized by his brother Charles Wesley known as the “Holy Club”
through Charles Wesley, the then undergraduate student of Christ Church.
July 11, 2018
(Wednesday). At
the Cavell Room of Sarum College, Dr. Paul W. Chilcote, gave his lecture on the
“Leadership in the Wesleyan Spirit: Foundations” from 9:15 to 10:45 in the
afternoon (UK time), and after a short refreshment, Ms. Melanie Gordon[2]
gave a lecture on “Covenant Relationship with Families and Children” from 11:15
a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
One of the many interests of John
Wesley is educating children and young ones. During the meeting of John Wesley
with his companions held at Oxford dated August 1730, they decided to visit and
teach orphan children at least weekly. In 1731, they began bringing together
the children of the poor family regularly at Oxford, and hired Mrs. Plat to
take care of
the children. At Georgia, John Wesley continued his children ministry in the
School at Savannah with Charles Delamonte. They did only teach children on
literacy and numeracy but also gave catechistic instruction to the younger and
older ones. And in London and Bristol, the Methodist Society through the
supervision of John Wesley were able to established learning centre for
children (Kingswood School) and employed teachers to take charge in the
literacy-numeracy program, and a stewards to take charge with the parents of
the children.
In
the afternoon, after Lunch, we are given a time to do journaling from 1:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m. Attended the Evensong Service at the Salisbury Cathedral located
just in front of the Sarum College. Taken pictures in the different chapels at
the Cathedral, then back to Sarum College Refectory for supper, and then roamed
around at the city from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Our daylong activity yesterday
is concluded with Compline (an Evening Praise and Prayer using the pattern of
the Order of Saint Luke) at 9:00 p.m. It was a tiring but inspiring journey,
and I am thankful to God.
July 12, 2018
(Thursday). We
left Salisbury at 9:30 in the morning and arrived at West Bromwich at 11:30
a.m. After having our lunch, we visited the Cottage of Bishop Francis Asbury at
Newton Road, Swanwick, England.
Bishop Francis Asbury, known as
the father of American Methodism was born in Hamstead, England in 1745, a son
of a farm labourer Joseph and a gardener Elizabeth Asbury. His family moved to
Newton Road when he was 1 year old. He went to school at Snails Green a mile
away from their home and became a good scholar. He was able to read the Bible
by the age of six by the guidance of his mother who has a great influence to
his spiritual life. At the age of 13, Francis Asbury worked as apprentice to a
Methodist blacksmith that prepared him physically in the ministry. He began attending Methodist activities at
his early teens and impressed by the services, the nature of the singing,
prayers and sermons of the Methodist society. At the age of 18, he became active
member of the Methodist society and in 1766 became a full time itinerant
preacher based at Salisbury. Francis Asbury became instrumental for the
establishment and development of the Salisbury Methodist Society. It was August
1771, during the Methodist conference held at Bristol when he responded the
call of John Wesley for a missionary work in America. In September 4, 1771,
Francis Asbury set sail from the port of Pill at Avon (an old English term of
the river) near Bristol bound for America (known then as New World), and later consecrated
as the first Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. The cottage
located at the New Road, Swanwick, England is a reminder of a person came from
the margins, a son of a farm labourer and gardener, and a skilled blacksmith
who became a great person of the American soil and in the Methodist movement.
It
is about 4:00 p.m. (July 12, 2018) when we arrived at The Hayes Conference
Centre, Swanwick, England.
This Centre accommodated the
conference organized by the Student Christian Movement of England (Great
Britain) in May 1911. The Student Christian Movement of England is one of the
participants and instrumental for the formation of the World Student Christian
Federation, an international federation of the Student Christian Movements
committed to dialogue, ecumenism, social justice, and peace. The World Student
Christian Federation (WSCF) was organized in 1895 and John R. Mott, a Methodist
from the United States of America was elected the first General Secretary.
And
at 4:30 p.m. after settling down in our particular room (I am in Room 55 on the
3rd floor of the building), Dr. Philip R. Meadows[3]
gave his lecture on “Developing Spiritual Life of Mission-Shaped Disciples”. He
pointed Mission as Discipleship, as well as articulated the Spirituality of
Mission, and the Spirituality of the Wesleyan Band Meeting.
July 13, 2018
(Friday). Travelled
to Epworth from Swanwick, towards the Old Rectory where the founders of
Methodism, John and Charles Wesley was born.
According to the accounts, they
were nineteen born in the Wesley Family but only 10 survived - three boys (Samuel
Jr., John, and Charles) and seven girls (Emilia, Susanna, Mary, Mehetabel,
Anne, Martha, and Kezia). John Wesley was born in June 17, 1703 (June 28 in the
present calendar) as the fifteenth child and Charles Wesley was born as the
eighteenth child of Susannah Annesley Wesley and Rev. Samuel Wesley on December
18, 1707. Their father at that time is the rector of the Saint Andrews Parish
of the Church of England at Epworth. The Methodist spirituality, the dedication
to learning, devotion to God, love of Scripture, being responsible to the
entrusted responsibilities and the discipline of time by John and Charles
Wesley moulded and honed from Old Rectory under the tutelage of their beloved mother
Susannah Annesley Wesley.
We
visited the Saint Andrew Parish, Epworth, England on that day, where the father
of John Wesley assigned as Rector for three decades.
The father of John Wesley, Reverend Samuel Wesley (1662-1735) and
his mother Susanna Annesley Wesley (1669-1742) arrived at Epworth in 1696. Reverend Samuel Wesley served as Rector of
Saint Andrew Parish, Epworth, England until his death. He died in April 25,
1735 at the age of 72. John Wesley made his first and weeklong visit back to
Epworth in June 1742. Sunday, June 6, 1742, John Wesley offered himself to the
parish priest (curate) of Saint Andrew to assist during the Worship Service, but
the curate refused his offer. After the Service on that Sunday, John Taylor, one
of the friends invited the people to go back at 6 o’clock in the evening to
listen to the preaching of Reverend John Wesley. The five feet in height John
Wesley, delivered his sermon upon his father’s tombstone surrounded by the
people of Epworth – merchant, miller, farmer, fisherman, soldier, smith, weaver
and washerwoman – whom he and Charles had grown up with.
Then
we dropped by at the Market Cross of Epworth, where John Wesley preached in
many occasion during his annual and occasional visits in 1760s and 1770s. The
little of town Epworth give birth the founders of Methodism.
July 14, 2018 (Saturday). In the morning at
the Cavell Room of Sarum College, Rev. Dr. Steven Manskar[4]
gave the lecture on the United Methodist Rule of Life.
What I’ve learn on this lecture
is that, the early Methodist Society is a lay monastic society within the
Church of England, similar to the Franciscan because of their ministry with the
poor, disadvantaged, and their concern to all creation. In addition to this,
the early Methodist Society is similar to the Jesuits for their spiritual
discipline, devotion to God and to the Scripture. And Methodism started as a network
of ecclesiola en ecclesia or of a
small church within the Church (of England) intends to reform the nation,
particular the Church and spread scriptural holiness throughout the nation. Rev.
Steven Manskar, discussed clearly the General Rule of Discipleship which is “To
witness to Jesus Christ in the world
and to follow His teachings through
acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit.” To “witness” here, means to
give evidence what we have seen and experience with Jesus the Christ, and share
it to the world. “Follow his teaching” would mean, embracing and live out the
teaching of Jesus which is the greatest testimony that we could do. The acts of
compassion, acts of justice, acts of mercy, acts of devotion is our
spirituality, the outcomes of what we have witness to Jesus Christ and the
teachings that we have embraced.
As
what I have understood with the lecture of Rev. Steven Manskar, the Methodist
spirituality reflects the spirituality of Jesus, and the Methodist Society
reflects the Society of Jesus, enlightened by the experiences of life and
empowered by the Spirit of God.
July 15, 2018
(Sunday). In the
morning, we attended the Holy Communion Service at Salisbury Methodist Church,
have a conversation and fellowship with members after the service. Buy some
souvenirs in their shop, took pictures. Then in the afternoon went to Bath, hailed
at the south west England founded in the 1st century by the Romans
who used the natural hot springs of the place as thermal spa, became the centre
of wool industry during the Middle Ages, and developed into an elegant spa city
during the reign of George I, II, and III. And with the goodness of my newly
found friend in the pilgrimage, Rev. Young (Korean Pastor) and Rev. Clint
(American Pastor) I was able to roamed around the city, known during the time
of John Wesley as the city of the rich and influential people.
According to Dr. Paul Chilcote,
John Wesley visited the city to preach the Gospel to rich people, established connections
and linkages among the wealthy of the city for the ministry with the poor
people. He was also known then to the street children of the city and allocated
time to play and fellowship with them. John Wesley was able to establish a
boarding school (Kingswood School) for the sons and daughters of the preachers
of the Methodist society in 1742. Wherein, according to Dr. Paul Chilcote, the
collections of books of John Wesley is deposited and kept in the library of the
school.
July 16, 2018 (Monday).
We went to
Bristol City, the second largest city hailed at the south western England, and
visited the John Wesley’s Chapel (New Room), the Museum, and the Cottage of
Rev. Charles and Mrs. Sally Wesley.
The city of Bristol during the
time of John Wesley (1739) is one of the birthplaces of industrial revolution
and among its biggest industries were shipbuilding, glass making, weaving, and
sugar refining. This maritime city was known then the dirtiest city of England,
surrounded by coal mines. It was also known as the epicentre of slave trade and
trafficking of England at that time. The few wealthy merchants and
businesspeople controlled the city and there is a big disparity between the
poor and the rich, that John Wesley criticised and condemned. John Wesley came
to Bristol in March 1739, through the invitation of The Rev. George Whitefield,
an evangelist and a former Oxford colleague of John and Charles.
In Bristol, John Wesley
discovered the engagement of George Whitefield on open-air or field preaching
which gave impact to the poor, oppressed, marginalized, exploited, and deprived
people of Bristol. At first, John Wesley was reluctant to what George Whitefield
did, holding services in an open field though it was not illegal but it was
irregular and was associated with the dissenting movement of that time. But
John Wesley discovered that open air or field preaching is very effective to bring
the gospel to the people where they are, and to the people who could not or
would not be able to go to church at the appointed time of worship services. And
through the open field preaching they will be able to preached to 10,000 to
30,000 people of Bristol. John Wesley and George Whitefield’s open air or field
preaching made them unacceptable to the clergy and bishops of the Church of
England, to the point that they were threatened by the bishops to be
excommunicated. With such experiences, John Wesley said, “My ordination is not
to any particular parish but to any part of the Church of England…my ministry
is not limited by parish boundaries, but I look upon the world as my parish.” He shared all his experiences to her
mother, Susannah Wesley and gave her approval to what he is doing. From then
on, it became the habit of John Wesley to preach whenever and wherever he could
get a chance and opportunity.
John Wesley immediately took over
the ministry at Bristol when George Whitefield left to Wales. He organized a
number of societies, class meetings and bands. The societies organized by John
Wesley have a weekly meeting for worship and fellowship, prayer and instruction
that carefully scheduled to avoid conflicts with parish services of the Church
of England. The people called Methodists were encouraged by John Wesley to
attend the regular mass or services at St. James Parish of the Church of
England in Bristol. The early meetings of the Methodist Societies in Bristol
held at the houses of the members, and through the guidance of John Wesley they
were able to purchased lot at Horsefair Street, Bristol, where they build a
“Society Room”. This place that serves as their central meeting place was
dedicated in July 11, 1739, before George Whitefield left to Wales. Few years
later, the “Society Room” was refurbished to accommodate the growing numbers of
the members.
The “New Room” was built equipped
with a living room off from the chapel, with bed rooms for the itinerant
preachers, and for John Wesley. The building is located at the pasture land of
Bristol then, but now is already surrounded by malls and business
establishments at the heart of the commercial complex. The New Room has two
level pulpits wherein the first level pulpit is for scripture reading and
leading hymn singing, and the second level pulpit is for the preachers. When
Holy Communion is not already accessible for the people called Methodists, below
the first level is the table of John Wesley used for the celebration of Holy
Communion. He provided a clock visible
to the gathered community and to preachers for timekeeping.
We
also visited the grave of the sons and daughters of Rev. Charles and Mrs. Sally
Wesley in front of St. James Parish of the Church of England at Bristol, as
well as their cottage. Then to the museum which depicts the life and works of
the John Wesley, Charles Wesley, George Whitefield, and the people called
Methodists.
It highlights the ministry with
the poor, the advocacies against slave trade, unfair wages by the workers and
tenants, the disparity between the rich and the poor people, the open field
preaching and the formation of the societies and class meetings of the Methodist
societies.
July 17, 2018
(Tuesday). We
arrived safely at Royal Foundation of St. Katherine, London from Sarum College,
Salisbury where we stayed most of our days in the pilgrimage.
The Royal Foundation of St.
Katherine is a conference and retreat centre in the eastern part of the London founded
in 1147 by Queen Matilda of England as a religious community, and hospital for
the poor and sanctuary for the immigrants. This was dedicated and in honour to
St. Katherine of Alexandria, born in a wealth family, well educated women, and
devoted to the Christian faith. She refused a proposal of marriage from the
emperor and so she was tortured by being tied to a spiked wheel and then
martyred.
In
the afternoon, we have given a free time for city sightseeing. Together with my
co-pilgrims (Moses from Kenya, Yong and Clint from USA), we went to the Tower
of London who served as refuge by the kings.
The Tower of London was started
to build by William the Conqueror in 1078 and completed in 1240, the also
served then as royal residence, arsenal and a prison.
After
few minutes, we walk towards the London Bridge, known to the world through the
nursery rhyme, “London Bridge is Falling Down”, built by the Romans 2000 years
ago, across the River Thames. This bridge is where the criminals executed
during the Romans. Passed through the Elizabeth Tower Clock or known as Big Ben
that currently under renovation, towards the Westminster Abbey and the
Parliament Square.
Few blocks from the Parliament
Square, hailed the Methodist Central Hall (at Westminster, London) established
in 1912, and where the first meeting of the United Nations in 1946 was held.
Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Billy Graham
visited this place. Then after the Methodist Central Hall, we walk towards the
location of Buckingham Palace, where the royal family of England is residing.
And
then went back to Royal Foundation of St. Katherine after having a dinner in an
Asian restaurant.
July 18, 2018
(Wednesday). Woke
up at 5:00 in the morning, have my breakfast and attended the Morning Praise
and Prayer presided by an Anglican Priest at the RFSK Chapel. 10:00 in the
morning, we went to John Wesley’s Chapel or Preaching House, the Museum of
Methodism, John Wesley’s House located at the City Road, London. The preaching house of John Wesley established
in 1778, is currently use as one of the sanctuary of The Methodist Church, most
of the members here are African immigrants.
To back track a bit, after
returning to England from Georgia, John Wesley visited his ill brother Charles
whom in May 21, 1738 experienced an evangelical conversion at the house of John
Bray at Aldersgate. During his visit, through his brother Charles he met James
Hutton, an owner of a bookshop and lodge where John Wesley stayed. John Hutton
became instruments for John Wesley’s acquaintance with Peter Bohler and the
Moravian missionaries. In May 1, 1778, John and Charles, James Hutton, Peter
Bohler, and few others met at James Hutton’s home and organized a Religious
Society that regularly meet at the Fetter Lane. They have weekly meetings for
prayer and confession, and a monthly love feast from 7:00 to 10:00 in the
evening. Then the heart-warming experience of John Wesley happened in the
evening of May 24, 1738 in a prayer meeting at Aldersgate.
John Wesley succeeded to lead the
little society and wrote the Rules of the
Band Societies in December 25, 1738. John Wesley’s ministry grew in number
to the point that they need a regular meeting place for preaching for a large
crowd. So they moved at the Royal Foundry which is abandoned canon factory, and
John Wesley was able to leased building remodelled into a preaching house where
the first Service was held in November 11, 1939. It became the John Wesley’s
headquarter in 1740. It was June 16, 1740 during the meeting, when John Wesley
and eighteen members of the Fetter Lane Society walked out during the meeting due
to the disagreements with the Moravian leaders.
The first meeting called by John
Wesley after broke up was held at the Foundry, instead at the Fetter Lane. John
Wesley developed their building into a chapel that can hold 1,500 people, with
a large room which could accommodate 300, a dispensary and a bookshop for the
sale of his books and pamphlets. He also put up a learning centre for children
for free, and a shelter for widows. In the second floor of the building, John
Wesley set rooms for him and for the Preachers. He intended to put plain
benches instead of pews that symbolizing the equality of the membership status whether
you are rich or poor. The building at Foundry became the site for regular
preaching services done twice daily, 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning and 6:00 or
6:30 in the evening. The pattern Services usually begin with a short opening
prayer, a hymn, and half-hour sermon, another hymn, and a concluding prayer.
According to the accounts, there
were 66 class meetings met at the Foundry weekly supervised by John Wesley and
assisted by the Methodist Preachers. The people called Methodists at the
Foundry passionately lives out the C.H.R.I.S.T.I.C. or liberating spirituality.
The “C” stands for Compassionate, where all members were be fed and nurtured to
be a leaders, preachers, and missionaries. The “H” stands for having a holistic
ministry component such as preaching and teaching the word, prayer, healing,
livelihood program, children and youth ministries. The “R” stands for a Redeeming
fellowship where are freed from bondage of sin and in any forms of evil, and
being redeemed into its original image with the capacity to build empowering
and harmonious relationship with one another and with other God’s creation. The
“I” stands for Inquiring faith or faith seeking understanding. The “S” stands
for Solidarity with the poor, oppressed, marginalized, exploited, deprived but
struggling people. The “T” stands for Transformative society in sense that an
ordinary individual transformed as become enlightened, equipped and empowered
to participate in missions. The “IC” stands for Intercultural Competent for
having the capacity to respect one another’s race, culture, social status, and
language, and for possessing the gift of working with one another. Methodism at
the Foundry has a profound identification with the poor and marginalized.
In 1778, the headquarters of
Methodist Society at the Foundry is relocated to the current location of the
Wesley’ Chapel at City Road, London. The original pulpit and some benches were
also relocated to the Wesley Chapel.
We
visited the graveyard of John Wesley back of the Chapel, and Wesley’s House and
Museum. Then at the Aldersgate Street, London
where the Aldersgate Flame was erected closely as possible in the old Nettleton
Court of the 18th century Aldersgate Street, where the Museum of London is now
located.
Our last place we visited was the Cathedral of St. Paul where
the life size statue of John Wesley is located in the compound. This would
possibly in honour to the founder of Methodism that despite of the persecution
and attacks against him from his colleagues and bishops of the Church of
England, still died as a priest of the Church of England.
July
19, 2018 (Thursday). I maximized by day to encode my journal. Read books in my
rooms, and then walked around the Royal Foundation of Saint Katherine.
July
20, 2018 (Friday). I woke up 5:00 in the morning, fixed my things and ready for
check out. Attended the Morning Prayer at the Chapel presided by the Anglican
Priest Rev. Atkin and then had my breakfast at Yurt Café. Then at 11 in the
morning checked out from the Royal Foundation of St. Katherine, head off to
Heathrow International Airport (London), it’s about 1 hour and 30 minutes via
Tube Lane (Train), then bound for Manila, Philippines through Philippine Air
Line PR 721 at 10:20 in the evening and arrived at Terminal 2 of the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Philippines at about 7:30 in the evening
of July 21, 2018 (Saturday), it was a 12 hours and 30
minutes flight. Then, 4:00 in the morning of July 22, 2018 (Sunday), bound for Davao International Airport,
Davao City, Philippines, and arrived at 5:45 in the morning, taxicab to the
L300 Van Terminal bound for Kidapawan City, and finally backed home at 9:36 in
the morning of the same date.
It
is a great opportunity for me to visit and explore some places following the
trail of John Wesley and Methodism in England. These also motivated me to read
related books and articles about Wesleyan Heritage and Theology. It deepened my
understanding and appreciation of Wesleyan Tradition and Spirituality and be
more passionate in upholding and living out the treasured tradition and
spirituality. The people called Methodists are people dynamically participate
with Christ in his on-going work of transforming the world and in the journey
toward God’s shalom. Passionately lives out to be a channel of grace for others
and for all creation, a sign community of the coming and realization of the
Kindom of God. Putting faith into practice through self-giving ministry that
intends to address the suffering and economic deprivation of the poor. ###
[1] Rev.
Dr. Paul W. Chilcote while giving his lecture on the "Renewal in the
Wesleyan Spirit", at Sarum College, Salisbury, England. He is the Director
of the United Methodist Studies and Professor of the Asbury Theological
Seminary, USA.
[2] Ms.
Melanie Gordon while giving her lecture on "Covenant Relationship with
Families and Children" She is a Religion Teacher of Christ Church
Episcopal Upper School (IB) Greenville, South Carolina.
[3]
Dr. Philip R. Meadows is a Professor of Evangelism Studies of Asbury
Theological Seminary, USA.
[4] Rev.
Dr. Steven Manskar while giving his lecture on Discipleship, Cavell Room, Sarum
College, Salisbury, England. He is the former Director of the Wesleyan
Leadership – Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church, USA.
