9.6.1 Evangelical Revival and Rise of Methodism

OCR Specification focus:
‘the evangelical revival; emergence and growth of Methodism; Wesley and reasons for his appeal’

The Evangelical Revival and the rise of Methodism transformed British religious life in the eighteenth century, inspiring widespread spiritual renewal and shaping social and political developments.

The Evangelical Revival

The Evangelical Revival was a broad religious movement in the eighteenth century that sought to renew Christian faith through an emphasis on personal conversion, heartfelt devotion, and moral reform. Unlike formal Anglican orthodoxy, evangelicals focused on the experience of salvation, the authority of the Bible, and the transformative role of grace.

Characteristics of Evangelical Religion

Personal faith and conversion: Evangelicals emphasised that individuals must be “born again,” experiencing a personal relationship with God.
Biblical centrality: The Bible was regarded as the supreme authority in all aspects of faith and conduct.
Preaching and evangelism: Powerful, emotional preaching became the hallmark of revivalist religion.
Moral reform: Evangelicals promoted discipline, sobriety, and strict codes of behaviour.

Evangelicalism: A Protestant movement stressing the necessity of personal conversion, the authority of Scripture, and active efforts to spread the faith.

The revival appealed to a wide spectrum of society, including the poor and working classes who felt excluded from the formalism of the Established Church.

The Emergence of Methodism

John Wesley and the Methodist Movement

The central figure in the rise of Methodism was John Wesley (1703–1791), an Anglican clergyman whose preaching and organisation created one of the most significant religious movements in British history. Alongside his brother Charles Wesley, who composed hymns, John emphasised a methodical approach to religious devotion — hence the name Methodist.

Core Features of Methodism

Field preaching: Wesley preached outdoors to large gatherings, reaching those who rarely attended parish churches.

John Wesley preaching from his father’s tomb at Epworth (6 June 1742). The image shows a large open-air congregation, capturing the emotive, accessible evangelism that characterised the Evangelical Revival. Source

Lay preachers: Ordinary men were trained to deliver sermons, allowing the movement to spread rapidly.
Societies and classes: Methodists organised into small groups for prayer, mutual discipline, and support.

Interior of John Wesley’s New Room in Bristol (opened 1739). The simple pulpit, galleries and benches exemplify a space designed for preaching and structured fellowship that nurtured Methodist discipline. Source

Emphasis on holiness: Wesley taught the possibility of attaining a state of “Christian perfection” through God’s grace.

Methodism: A revivalist movement within the Church of England, led by John Wesley, stressing strict discipline, small group fellowship, and evangelical preaching.

Spread and Growth

The movement spread quickly across England, Wales, Scotland, and eventually America. Methodism thrived in industrial and urban areas where populations were underserved by the Anglican clergy. By the late eighteenth century, Methodism had become a national force with its own chapels, schools, and publishing networks.

Reasons for Wesley’s Appeal

John Wesley’s success was not merely organisational; it was rooted in his ability to connect with people across social classes.

Accessibility of Preaching

Wesley preached in plain, emotional language, avoiding the academic style typical of many Anglican sermons.
He made religion relevant to daily life, emphasising personal sin, salvation, and hope.

Charismatic Leadership

Wesley’s tireless preaching tours (he travelled over 250,000 miles in his lifetime) gave him a national presence.
His strict personal discipline set a moral example.

Social Concern

Wesley championed causes such as prison reform, abolition of slavery, and education for the poor.
His message resonated with the working classes suffering under rapid social and economic change.

Organisational Skill

The use of lay preachers ensured rapid expansion.
Societies and classes created a sense of belonging and accountability.

Wider Impact of the Revival

The Evangelical Revival and the rise of Methodism influenced Britain far beyond the religious sphere.

Religious Landscape

The revival reinvigorated Anglicanism as evangelicals within the Church of England promoted reform and renewal.
Methodism eventually separated from the Church of England (post-Wesley) to form an independent denomination.

Social Reform

Evangelical and Methodist leaders inspired or directly participated in reforms such as:

The campaign to abolish the slave trade.
The founding of schools and Sunday schools.
Movements for temperance and moral improvement.

Popular Religion

For many of the poor and disenfranchised, Methodism offered dignity, community, and hope.
Hymn singing, lay preaching, and fellowship created a participatory form of worship distinct from formal Anglican ritual.

Opposition and Criticism

Despite its success, the movement faced resistance:

Anglican clergy criticised Wesley for undermining parish structures.
Critics accused Methodists of emotional excess and fanaticism.
Some political elites feared that mass gatherings could lead to disorder or radicalism.

Yet, over time, the movement gained respectability and played an enduring role in shaping British Protestant identity.

FAQ

George Whitefield was a charismatic preacher and an early member of the Holy Club at Oxford with the Wesleys.

He pioneered large-scale open-air preaching before Wesley fully adopted it, drawing huge crowds with his dramatic delivery. Whitefield’s Calvinist leanings created theological divisions with Wesley’s Arminianism, but both men contributed to spreading evangelical religion across Britain and America.

Methodists promoted reading the Bible and hymnbooks, which encouraged literacy among followers.

Wesley supported the establishment of Sunday schools where children from poor backgrounds learned to read alongside religious instruction. This emphasis on reading and scripture study meant Methodism had an indirect but significant role in improving literacy in eighteenth-century Britain.

Anglican clergy viewed Methodism as a challenge to parish authority and feared disorder from mass gatherings.

Concerns included:

Lay preachers undermining clerical hierarchy.
Field preaching disrupting established parish boundaries.
Emotional preaching being criticised as enthusiasm or fanaticism.

This opposition pushed Methodism towards eventual separation from the Church of England.

Hymn singing, led by Charles Wesley’s compositions, created a powerful communal identity.

Hymns were memorable and accessible, teaching doctrine through verse.
Singing together reinforced fellowship and made services participatory.
Hymns spread Methodism’s message beyond chapels, as people sang them in homes and workplaces.

Music became one of Methodism’s most distinctive and enduring features.

Methodism quickly expanded to the American colonies through itinerant preachers and emigrant communities.

The revival spirit thrived in the religiously diverse and socially mobile environment of America. Methodism also reached Ireland and parts of the Caribbean, often carried by lay preachers. This international spread laid the foundations for Methodism as a global denomination in later centuries.

Practice Questions

Question 1 (2 marks)
Name one key feature of John Wesley’s preaching and explain why it helped Methodism spread.

Mark Scheme:

1 mark for identifying a key feature, such as field preaching, use of lay preachers, or emotional/plain language.
1 mark for explaining why this helped the spread, e.g. “Field preaching reached people outside parish churches” or “Plain language made sermons understandable to ordinary people.”

Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two reasons why Methodism appealed to the working classes in the eighteenth century.