The causes and effects of the divisions within Methodism in Bradford, 1796-1857
Some years ago I completed an M. A. degree at Huddersfield University on 'The Fly Sheet Controversy and the Wesleyan Reform movement in Birstall and the Spen Valley 1849-1857'. The present study is wider in scope and includes all the divisions within Methodism and is centred on Bradford, but includes the Bingley and Shipley circuits and the Birstall and Cleckheaton circuits, the whole being referred to as 'the Bradford area'. Between 1796 and 1857 several groups of Methodists left their Wesleyan chapels to create new societies, still Methodist in doctrine and tradition, but with different styles of church government. The Independent Methodists, Primitive Methodists and Bible Christians were looking for greater freedom to organise their worship and evangelical outreach without the restrictions imposed by Conference and the ministers. In other cases secessions followed disputes over specific issues - the Methodist New Connexion sought greater democracy and more lay involvement, the Protestant Methodists resented the approval by Conference of an organ at Brunswick Chapel, the Wesleyan Methodist Association objected to arrangements for ministerial training and the Wesleyan Reformers complained of ministerial domination
Terry, James Gordan
B Philosophy (General) ; HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform ; BL Religion ; DA Great Britain
The causes and effects of the divisions within Methodism in Bradford, 1796-1857. Some years ago I completed an M. A. degree at Huddersfield University on 'The Fly Sheet Controversy and the Wesleyan Reform movement in Birstall and the Spen Valley 1849-1857'. The present study is wider in scope and includes all the divisions within Methodism and is centred on Bradford, but includes the Bingley and Shipley circuits and the Birstall and Cleckheaton circuits, the whole being referred to as 'the Bradford area'. Between 1796 and 1857 several groups of Methodists left their Wesleyan chapels to create new societies, still Methodist in doctrine and tradition, but with different styles of church government. The Independent Methodists, Primitive Methodists and Bible Christians were looking for greater freedom to organise their worship and evangelical outreach without the restrictions imposed by Conference and the ministers. In other cases secessions followed disputes over specific issues - the Methodist New Connexion sought greater democracy and more lay involvement, the Protestant Methodists resented the approval by Conference of an organ at Brunswick Chapel, the Wesleyan Methodist Association objected to arrangements for ministerial training and the Wesleyan Reformers complained of ministerial domination
cause_effect division_within methodism bradford complete degree university sheet controversy wesleyan reform_movement valley present_study wider scope include division_within methodism centre bradford include circuit circuit whole refer the bradford area several group methodists leave wesleyan chapel create_new society still methodist doctrine tradition different style church_government independent methodists primitive methodists bible christians look great freedom organise worship evangelical outreach without restriction impose conference minister case secession follow dispute specific_issue methodist new connexion seek great democracy lay involvement protestant methodists approval conference organ chapel wesleyan methodist association object arrangement ministerial training wesleyan complain ministerial domination