Asbury Celebrations Birmingham 9th April2016

2016 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Bishop Francis Asbury, who sailed from the port of Pill, Bristol in 1771 after being ordained by John Wesley. Asbury became the first Joint Superintendent Methodist minister in America.

Asbury became a local lay preacher for Methodist meetings at age 18. At age 22, John Wesley appointed him as a travelling preacher. His home still stands and is open as a museum in West Bromwich, England. 

In 1771 he volunteered to travel to America. Within the first 17 days of being in the colonies, Asbury had preached in Philadelphia and New York. During the first year he was Wesley’s assistant and preached in 25 different settlements. When the American War of Independence broke out in 1776, he and James Dempster were the only Methodist ministers to remain in America.

In 1813, Asbury wrote his will. This was a time when “the greatest membership gain in the history of the church” was achieved. In 1814 his health started to fail and he became ill. In 1816 he started to regain strength and continued his preaching journey. He “preached his last Sermon in Richmond, Virginia” on March 24, “and dies at the home of George Arnold near Fredericksburg” on March 31

In partnership with the Black Country Living Museum, The Methodist Church are celebrating Asbury’s early years as a local apprentice metal worker, and the impact of Methodism on the industrialised Midlands of the nineteenth century.
There will be an opportunity to visit his childhood home in a vintage bus, experience a Victorian Sunday School and other activities, including a special visit of Burslem's Gospel Car.

Gospel Car 'No 11 Ebenezer' at Swan Bank Methodist Mission

The Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists and Church Army all used 'Gospel cars' in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. They toured Markets, Fairs,and rural locations. Within Methodism, horsedrawn wagons were partly replaced by hand-pushed 'trek carts' in the inter-war years, and finally by deaconess' caravans in the 1950s.

Burslem is in the heart of the Potteries. John Wesley visited many times and it was the birthplace and early home of Primitive Methodist leader,William Clowes.
This faithful reproduction of Car No 11 was built in 2011, and is normally housed at Burslem's Swan Bank Mission between visits to schools and churches, when visitors can listen to '78s' on the gramophone, try the loud hailer, beds and harmonium, and watch a magic lantern slide show.

The Bristol & South Gloucestershire Circuit have a 21st century version - our VW converted Camper Vans known as Vincent & Wilfred!

Our Van also comes with built in projection - Flat screen TV, kitchen, tables and sofa's,

and will touring around the County Shows, and various other venues throughout 2016.

Anne and I have booked for the event at the Black Country Museum on Saturday 9th April at an early bird price of £9 per person. We will be staying overnight at the Premier Inn at Longbridge (£35). If you want to join us.

Click HERE for more information and tickets

Click  HERE to take the Asbury Quiz

Asbury’s boyhood home and now a small museum – is being opened between 11am and 4pm on Thursday 31 March, the actual anniversary of his death.