The Methodist Heritage Newsletter
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Hello DAVID, this edition of the Methodist Heritage Newsletter looks ahead to 'What's On' at the four Methodist Museums in October & November.
'From the archives' this month is a glimpse into the journal of the Revd Benjamin Gartside (1799-1881), a minister and missionary to the West Indies. I was struck by his final entry in this journal where Mr Gartside notes his anxieties about not being well received in Leigh, Lancashire - amongst his worries are what today might be called first impressions and body image! It is a wonderful 19th century account, where so many themes carry through to today... though I may be biased, as I am also from Saddleworth.
I hope you enjoy this edition of the Methodist Heritage newsletter.
Yours Faithfully, Olivia Threlkeld
Methodist Heritage and Collections Officer |
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From the Methodist Museums Organise a trip with your church to your nearest Methodist Museum... |
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New Vacancy Outreach, Learning and Engagement Manager at Epworth Old Rectory Do you have a passion for bringing heritage to new audiences? This exciting opportunity could be for you. Application deadline: 22nd October. |
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The Revd Benjamin Gartside, 1799-1881, Wesleyan Methodist, minister and missionary to the West Indies.Rediscovered in a strong room at Church House Marylebone was this complete journal spanning the years 1826-1853, making it a very valuable testimony of a missionary’s life in the 19th century. Included in it's pages are other valuable documents such as class tickets, statistics and circuit plans - relatively rare finds from this period. |
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Benjamin Gartside was born on May 9th, 1799 in Saddleworth. He was raised in the Church of England faith but converted to Wesleyan Methodism aged 16 after hearing a sermon in a Methodist assembly. He trained for the ministry and was received as a probationer in 1825. In 1826 he sailed from Gravesend to the West Indies where he was stationed for 11 years and worked in the circuits of Nevis, Montserrat, Saint Eustatius, Saint Christopher and Antigua. The Revd B Gartside opens his diary with the tale of his departure to Nevis: “Friday, Jan. 13, 1826, Mr Thomas C Morgan of Bristol, Mr and Mrs Bears and their two children, who are natives of London, Mr and Mrs Grimsdall of Hull, Mr and Mrs Burton of Retford, and myself accompanied by the Revd George Morley and several others of our friends took the steam boat at Tower steps and sailed for Gravesend, in order to embark to the West Indies. This day will ever be remembered by me. Something very affecting at the idea of leaving our native land and for any thing you know you are leaving it forever. […] At 2 o’clock we got to Gravesend, and immediately went on board the Marlborough Captne Middleton who was bound for Jamaica. After having taken a little refreshment we were brought to the moment when we must part with our much esteemed friend, and Father in the ministry the Revd George Morley, and several others who came down with us. This was a sorrowful moment – A profusion of tears and fervent ardent payers were offered to God that if we were not permitted to meet again in this vale of tears, we might all meet in Heaven. So we parted commending each other to God, hoping (if not in this world) finally to welcome one another upon the shores of the heavenly Canaan, where parting will be no more.” |
The diary continues with a very precise account of his life in the West Indies, stressing more on the life of his community and his sermons and actions as a minister than on his personal life, although there are mentions of major events like his wedding day or the birth of his children. The expression of his Methodist faith is a permanent feature of the journal.
An interesting passage is the entry on the abolition of slavery in the British Isles: “[1834] Friday, August, 1 – This is a memorable day – one of the great epochs of time. This [is] the day appointed by the King of England for the emancipation of all the slaves in the British West Indies. What a day! How long laboured for in the British Parliament by those men of deathless name, Wilberforce, Buxton, Stephens etc etc. O! Thrice happy day. I am sorry it is not my lot to be this day in an English Island.” |
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In March 1837, the Revd B Gartside sailed back to England with his wife and daughters. He was to travel for many more years in the home circuits until he retired as a supernumerary in1862. In the last entry for this journal, the Revd B Gartside is on his way to a new circuit, not expecting a very warm welcome: “August 1853 – arrived in Leigh, Lancashire. Cordially received though they had opposed my appointment, I am too stout, & could not work their circuit. I opened my commission by preaching from “ye are my friends if ye do etc”. The journal of Revd William Gartside is now stored in the Methodist Missionary Society Archive, SOAS University of London.
With thanks to Archivists Kate Doughty and Annaïg Boyer. |
Around the Connexion Your heritage stories and news from around the connexion |
'Church for Change': Exploring 300 years of Methodist Social Justice Saturday 4 November, Oxford / via Zoom
Join this one-day conference in person or online which arises from conversations around the Methodist Church's work in social justice projects, as highlighted by the 2021-22 'Walking with Micah' project, and its subsequent report to Methodist Conference (2023), 'A Justice-Seeking Church'. Click here for more a full programme. |
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Pre-Raphaelite Outsider: James Smetham (1821-1889) Bewdley Museum, open daily (10am-4pm) until the 29 October.
An exhibition at Bewdley Museum showcasing the works of Methodist Pre-Raphaelite artist (and follower of Dante Gabriel Rossetti), James Smetham. Smetham was a devout Methodist and an art teacher at Wesleyan Normal College in Westminster, which became Oxford Brookes University - where this collection is now permanently housed.
In case you don't have time to visit Bewdley before the end of the month, the exhibition is available online via the Bloomberg Connects app or learn more via this timeline of James' Smetham's life and work. |
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Mount Zion Methodist Heritage Chapel at 250 years
A special celebration was had to mark this semiquincentennial (!) - led by Revd Vicky Atkins with reflections from District Chair Revd Kerry Tankard & Paula Prosser, who shared the significance of heritage and how it propels us forward in mission through the generations. Hymns rang out across the valley in celebration and parkin, crumble & custard were enjoyed over memories shared. Read more about the history of the chapel here and keep up to date with what's on at Mount Zion, Halifax via the Facebook page. |
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Malton's Wesley Centre secures £370,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
This Grade II* listed building is undergoing an extensive transformation to secure it's future as a place of worship, as it has been continually since 1811, as well as serving as a Community Hub for the people of Malton and beyond. This major funding boost brings the project closer to it's target reopening late Spring of 2024.
Read more about this historic building and it's bright future via The Wesley Centre, Malton website. |
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Share your Methodist Heritage
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Use the My Methodist History websites to share your stories, memories, photos, research and comments about people, places and topics... just about all things Methodist!
With sub-sites for Primitive, Wesleyan, United Methodist & Oxford, these community archives are treasure troves of Methodist History. |
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Can you share a 'What's On' item for our next issue? What heritage news could you share with the connexion? Or perhaps you have some feedback on our first e-newsletter. |
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The Methodist Church Methodist Church House 25 Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SF Registered charity no. 1132208 |
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