Brother Priests

John and Charles Wesley, founders of Methodism, were the sons of an Anglican priest and they became ordained priests of the Church of England themselves.

I was nurtured within Methodism and I became an ordained Methodist minister. I was later made a deacon, and then ordained as a priest, in the Church of England. I was made deacon at the hands of Bishop John Moorman in Ripon Cathedral on 24th May 1970. This is the date in the calendar when we commemorate the Wesley brothers. The date was chosen to reflect a crucial religious experience in John's life in 1738 which launched him on an itinerant evangelistic mission which recognised no parish boundaries. Of course, there was opposition, but he said "The world is my parish". John's spirituality involved a strong affirmation of grace, frequent communion, and a disciplined striving after holiness. His open air preaching, concern for education and for the poor, liturgical revision, organising of local societies, and the training of preachers provided the basis for effective and relevant mission in 18th century England.

Charles shared with his brother John the work of the early Methodist mission but he had a special concern that Methodists should remain loyal to Anglicanism and had some disagreements with his brother over this. He marrie and settled in Bristol, later in London. His thousands of hymns established a rich resource for his own day, and for generations of Christians since, to discover and express the power of God's love in Jesus.

Charles died on 29th March 1788 and John on 2nd March 1791. They are commemorated by a plaque in Westminster Abbey.

On 1st November 2003 a Covenant was signed between the Methodist Church of Great Britain and the Church of England, at Westminster Central Hall, and followed by a service in Westminster Abbey. Her Majesty the Queen attended. We are now into a period of seeking to work out the terms of the Covenant both nationally and locally.

The final authority for British Methodism is the Annual Methodist Conference, held in a different venue each year, and chaired by the Methodist President. The agenda is always extensive and interestinga nd this year the Conference meets at the Scarborough Spa Complex from 3rd to 10th July. Ordinations will take place at various host locations during the Conference.

There is still a long way to go before the Covenant goal of "full visible unity" can be achieved. It must not be rushed or fudged. God will give unity in his own time and way.

John and Charles Wesley lioved and died as Anglicans. They belong to us as well as to Methodists. Their vocation was also ours - "to renew the Church and return to Gospel basics". Their vision of creating cells of consecrated Christians within the Church of England did not work out as they hoped but we, in our day, have much to learn from their teaching and example.

(from parish magazine for St Martin on the hill, Scarborough)