Asbury 200

Today marks the Connexional celebration of the death of Francis Asbury at the Black Country Living Museum. Special events are planed throughout the day with both the President and Vice President in attendance.

Francis Asbury was born in August 1745 in Newton in the Black Country. When he was three his sister aged 5 died from diphtheria. His mother was heartbroken and for a long time suffered depression. Although not a God fearing family Elizabeth sought answers from the church (Francis recalls in his diary: that the local Priest was "a blind Priest to his mothers needs). It was when she encountered the Methodists some of her questions were answered and she became a passionate advocate for the Methodist cause.

I have already recorded that Francis became an apprentice Nail maker to a local blacksmith at Forge Mill (farm), during this time Elizabeth opened her home for prayer meetings in her front room. Today I was able to tour the inside of the cottage as part of the celebrations, travelling by vintage bus.

Francis at the age of 13 heard Alxelander Mather, a Methodist circuit rider preach about how a person could be freed from sin, his heart was moved to undertake a life of holiness. By the age of 15 Francis was attending church morning, afternoon and evening.

The Methodist society meetings had an indelible impact on Asbury as he grew through his teenage years. He attended the society at Hilltop where he loved the hymns, but was impressed by the freedom with which the preachers prayed and spoke. In 1761 Francis was asked by Mather to form a group and class in Paradise St West Bromwich, then later a "Band" within two years Francis was appointed leader of the whole West Bromwich Class.

By the time Francis was 22 he had been appointed by John Wesley to become a "Methodist Itinerant" - known as one of Mr Wesley's preachers.

A service of celebration was held in Providence Chapel in the Museum built in 1837 at Derby Hand in Netherton, Dudley. Originally part of the New Connexion which broke away from Wesleyan Methodism in 1797. 

Rev Steve Wild, President of the Methodist Conference preached at the 2pm service. As usual Steve used charm, whit and passion to remind us that the mission of the church must go forward. He and Asbury in many respects come out of the same mould. 

I met Asbury (aka Ken Luxon) next to the "Gospel Car" . Such Cars were used between 1880 - 1960, mainly by the Wesleyan and Primitives to go to places of need and where "marginalised" people were to be found. including slums, markets, fairgrounds, and travelers camps. This Car is a replica of Ebenezer, No11 - a Wesleyan Gospel Car, and is spending a year at the museum.

Former Chair of the Bristol Methodist District,Ward Jones, led a session about how Methodism came to the Black Country. 

Flash Mob - Choir

A great day was had by all. keep posted for more celebrations in

September from Pill, near Bristol where Asbury being commissioned by Wesley set sail to USA, and later became the first Bishop of the Methodist Church. he was to become known as "the Prophet of the Long Road" For 45 years he led all the American Methodists, the church grew from a few hundred to over 200,000 members. Today there are over 10 million Methodists in USA.

Asbury Celebrations 200

After visiting the Methodist Heritage stand at WDYTYA Live at the NEC yesterday, today we make the most of being in the "Black Country" with visits to Wednesbury, Forge Mill Farm and Queens College.Charles Wesley came to Wednesbury in 1742 and preached at Holloway Bank, making several converts who met regularly, and Charles encouraged his brother John to come and preach. John's first visit to Wednesbury took place on Friday 7th January, 1743, during the evening he gave a sermon at the Market Cross building.

John returned in May that year to find that hostility fuelled by the Parish Church vicar, Edward Egginton and the first of several riots began by mobs funded by Eggington, Methodist houses were targeted. A plea for help to the local magistrate fell on deaf ears.

Wednesbury Riots

John returned on 20th October, 1743 and preached from the now famous “horse block” at the High Bullen (in reality a flight of steps leading to the upper floor of a malt house) without incident. He stayed at Francis Ward, a local Methodist leader but while he was there the mob arrived, but soon moved on. He now felt it was time to leave, but was persuaded not to do so.

By 5 o’clock the mob returned and surrounded the cottage with cries of “Bring out the minister!” The mob’s leader entered the cottage to see Wesley and soon quietened down. Wesley then went out to talk to the crowd who asked him to go with them to see the magistrate at Bentley Hall. He consented to do so and along with some of his colleagues and the crowd of 300 or so they proceeded to see Mr. Lane at Bentley Hall. Mr. Lane told them to go home and be quiet, but this was not good enough for the crowd who then escorted Wesley to see another magistrate, Mr. Persehouse in Walsall.

Mr. Persehouse had retired for the night and so the crowd decided to go home. At this point they were attacked by a mob from Walsall, into whose hands Wesley fell. His captors were very hostile and while they were deciding what to do next, Wesley began to pray aloud. The leader of the mob was so moved by his words that he had a change of heart and they let Wesley and his friends go. That night they returned to Wednesbury after having a lucky escape!

St Barts church - Church Hill

On the morning of Monday 6th February Wesley was once again in the town accompanied  by James Jones a fellow Methodist preacher.  He found his fellow Methodists in prayer, having heard that a mob would arrive the next day from Darlaston and elsewhere to plunder the house of every Methodist in the town.At 8 o’clock the next morning Jones addressed his fellow Methodists, and as he was doing so the news came that the mob had already entered the town and had began to break into the houses. James Jones hid and left for Birmingham early the next day. The mob entered each of the leading Methodist’s houses, breaking windows and window frames, smashing everything inside and generally wrecking the place. Anything of value was taken away. No resistance was offered and most people fled.

The mob’s ring leaders threatened to sack any of their employees who did not join them in the riot and offered to cease rioting if the members of the Methodist Society would sign an undertaking to never invite or receive Methodist preachers again. They did not receive a single signature.

 Eventually things began to quiet down, and  Wesley visited and preached peacefully in the town on several later occasions. On 15th March, 1761 he preached before a crowd of between 8,000 and 10,000 people in Monway Field.

Wesley Centre

A Stone memorial and plaque now mark the spot on which John Wesley preached at High Bullen, and in "Wesley Centre which is part of Spring Head Methodist Church stands the old “horse block” from on which Wesley used to preach.

Forge Mill Farm

We journey from Wednesbury to Forge Mill Farm, set in the Sandwell valley. The farm is the site of a former Old Forge,  During the 17th century the Forge was one of several such forges along the valley. It was here that a young Francis Asbury started his apprenticeship as a nailer at the age of 13. The mill was thought to be around for centuries, quite possibly the Priory Mill  for the nearby Catholic monastery. During the time of Francis Asbury, the  Forge was one of the largest in the area and was heavily involved with the ironworking industry.

Forge Mill Farm

However it was at  the age of fifteen, Francis Asbury became involved and joined the Methodist Society. By the age of seventeen, Francis Asbury began as a local preacher at the West Bromwich Methodist Meeting house. The year following, 1763, Francis Asbury became the leader of the Society Class at West Bromwich Heath. He held this position until he was an official itinerant Methodist preacher in 1767. It was the friend of Francis Asbury, James Mayo, who started at the old Forge at the same time, who was going to be appointed to succeed the leadership of this class when Francis Asbury was admitted to the traveling circuits.

Site of the old waterwheel

A visit to Queen's College (Now Queen's Foundation), where I studied for Ministry back in the late 1980's rounded off the day. 

My Study was the far, end wall window in the furthest building (over the library) which I shared for three years with Phil Summers, of Applecart fame.

Asbury Celebrations 2016

Asbury 200 Celebrations

Today set off to Birmingham as part of Francis Asbury's Celebrations, marking 200 years of his death. Anne and I lived in Selly Oak for three years whilst I trained at Queens College for ministry. Two of our boys were born in Birmingham, and  whilst we worked at the Overseas Division of The Methodist Church. (Methodist Missionary Society) at Church House in London we were frequent visitors of Selly Oak federation of colleges where the Methodist Church trained Missionaries as they were called at that time for overseas service. Asbury was one of the first missionaries commissioned with Thomas Coke by John Wesley to go to America when the Bishop of London recalled most of the CE clergy during the war of independence. Asbury became the first Methodist Bishop and joint Superintendent with Coke..

Whilst the main event is on Saturday we decided to make a couple of visits to various sites around the

Oak House Museum

Black Country this afternoon. First stop was Oak house Museum, at Sandwell. A hidden gem, this Tudor house was the home to the Turton Family 400 years ago. now owed by Sandwell Council it is a hands on museum with a great children's playground. John Wesley preached twice in the courtyard which today is marked by a blue plaque.

We traveled down the road  to Wesley Memorial Church in West Bromwich to see the 'Hand and cross' sculpture by Chris Dunseath, commemorating the preaching of John Wesley. Unveiled in 1989 in Duchess Parade St but moved to the present site outside the Methodist church in 2013.

Our final visit of the afternoon was to Asbury's Cottage at Great Barr. We will revisit this on Saturday and travel by vintage bus! But as we were so close and who knows what the weather will be like on Saturday a quick photo shoot was in order. The cottage was Asbury's childhood home where he lived with his parents until he was in his mid 20's, at the age of 26 he left for America.

Tomorrow we attend the "Who do you think you are...live" at the NEC, where the Methodist has a stand, hopefully a chance to find out and discover more about Black Country Methodism.