The Powerhouse of Methodism

The last two days have been wonderful during our time here in England. Yesterday we toured London, spending most of our time at the “City Road” Chapel, also known as Wesley Church on City Road. Built in the late 1700’s, when John Wesley was entering the last 15 years of his life, it was the first building ever constructed solely for the purpose of ongoing Methodist worship.

Even more interesting than this, however, was the fact that an adjoining house property was converted for use by John Wesley himself as a personal home. It was here that he spent the last 15 years of his life, although he still spent every summer traveling and preaching until his death at age 88.

At every stop I have been amazed at the way that the British give the public unbelievable access to their history. Whereas in America everything is roped off and encased in plastic, virtually every treasure or historical artifact can be walked up to and touched here. This was the case in Westminster Abbey where visitors can touch the tombs of ancient royalty. At John Wesley’s house, we stood in his personal bedroom, the room in which he died. Even more amazing was the “powerhouse of Methodism” as it came to be called.

The “powerhouse” is a small nook of a room (I’m starting to sound British) just off his bedroom. It was here that John Wesley would rise at 4 a.m. and spend hours in prayer every single morning, without fail. We stood around his kneeling bench together and were led in a prayer by Jamie Jenkins of the North Georgia Conference (formerly pastor at Bright Star UMC in Douglasville). The moment was one that I will not soon forget.

We also saw the Aldersgate and “Little Britain” locations, both important in the conversion experiences of the Wesleys. Both of these have changed dramatically in the 250 years that have intervened, and in the photos, you can see that John’s grave itself (located behind City Road Chapel) is now surrounded by modern architecture and a busy street. London is densely populated, to say the least. There just isn’t room for an appropriate buffer between John Wesley’s resting place and the developing, modern world. Somehow, I think that’s just how he would have wanted it.

We also saw the Bunhill Cemetery in London, home to the tombs of authors such as Daniel Defoe and William Blake. It is also the resting place of Susanna Wesley, mother to Charles and John.

Today we toured the cities of Worcester and Gloucester. Worcester is famous for porcelain and its incredible cathedral. Worcester Cathedral is a place of incredible, soaring architecture, and as I stood with Holly and some colleagues, we knew that words would never be adequate to describe the scene that we were taking in. There were a few quiet moments, and I was able to say a short prayer at the high altar at Worcester, in the very spot that Christians have drawn together for worship since approximately 680 A.D.

Also, King John (yes, the one from Robin Hood) was entombed about 20 feet directly behind me at the time of that prayer. Amazing, and slightly creepy.

From there we spent time at the equally amazing Gloucester Cathedral and at St. Mary’s de Crypt, the home church of Methodist pioneer George Whitefield. Whitefield was an amazing preacher, and we learned much in a lecture about his life and times. At the conclusion we toured the church, which was originally built in about 700 A.D. and rebuilt in about 1480. The baptismal font in this church is from about 1700 and is the place that Whitefield was baptized as a baby. Their current pulpit, in use today, is the one from which he preached his first sermon in 1736.

Tomorrow we are off to Chester. I don’t know exactly what’s there yet, but we will be spending time in one of the first Nazarene seminaries and hearing more about Methodism’s connection to our brothers and sisters from that tradition. Much more lies ahead.

We have learned that December in England is really cold. Also, we have learned that one of the fastest ways to charm any English person, of any age, is to tell them you’re from Atlanta and then lay on a deep southern drawl. They fundamentally love it and dote on us like we’re cute little children, which is fine with us.

Thanks to all of you for your love, support and prayers. We’ll be in touch and we’ll talk to you soon.

Cheers (they really do say this all the time),

Adam and Holly