An isolated holy community : Methodism in the upper Eden valley, Westmorland
Before the coming of the Methodists to the upper Eden valley in 1758, Celts, Romans, Anglians, Vikings, Normans and Scots had all left their mark on the area. Geographically, however, this part of Cumbria is somewhat mountainous and remote and their influences were not as significant as in other parts of England. A measure of consequent isolation was thus to affect the intensity of local religion, particularly that of later Methodism. Apart from a small number of Catholics and the Church of England, the immediate forerunners of the Methodists were the Quakers (from the seventeenth century) and the Inghamites (between 1755 and 1760). Methodism took root slowly but, by the middle of the nineteenth century, it was established in many of the hamlets and villages. By the time of a union of its various branches in 1932, preaching, fellowship, teaching, singing, missionary interest and abstinence from alcohol were already its distinctive emphases. Its impact on local society and the wider Church was most marked in its strong opposition to the use of alcohol and in continuing missionary interest. Such Methodism (which we have occasionally compared with the isolated Waldensian and Jewish religions) has declined in
Clarke, David Frederick
Philosophy
An isolated holy community : Methodism in the upper Eden valley, Westmorland. Before the coming of the Methodists to the upper Eden valley in 1758, Celts, Romans, Anglians, Vikings, Normans and Scots had all left their mark on the area. Geographically, however, this part of Cumbria is somewhat mountainous and remote and their influences were not as significant as in other parts of England. A measure of consequent isolation was thus to affect the intensity of local religion, particularly that of later Methodism. Apart from a small number of Catholics and the Church of England, the immediate forerunners of the Methodists were the Quakers (from the seventeenth century) and the Inghamites (between 1755 and 1760). Methodism took root slowly but, by the middle of the nineteenth century, it was established in many of the hamlets and villages. By the time of a union of its various branches in 1932, preaching, fellowship, teaching, singing, missionary interest and abstinence from alcohol were already its distinctive emphases. Its impact on local society and the wider Church was most marked in its strong opposition to the use of alcohol and in continuing missionary interest. Such Methodism (which we have occasionally compared with the isolated Waldensian and Jewish religions) has declined in
isolated holy community methodism upper valley come methodists upper valley celts romans vikings normans scots leave mark area geographically however part cumbria somewhat mountainous remote influence significant_part england measure consequent isolation thus affect intensity local religion particularly later methodism apart small_number catholics church_england immediate forerunner methodists quakers methodism take root slowly establish many hamlet village time union various branch preach fellowship teaching missionary interest alcohol already distinctive emphasis impact local_society wider church mark strong opposition use alcohol continue missionary interest methodism occasionally compare isolated jewish religion decline