Francis Asbury Arrives in America - Timeline Event
Time Period
1771
Description
In 1771, John Wesley sent out a call for additional workers to help develop Methodism in America. The previous call for missionaries in 1769 certainly helped spread the movement, but Wesley felt that the evangelist in Philadelphia, Richard Boardman, was a little too lax in his position. Because of this, Wesley sent itinerant preacher Francis Asbury from England to Philadelphia to replace Boardman in the fall of that year.
Although unknown at the time, Asbury would be the only Methodist missionary to stay in America during the Revolutionary War. He remained in hiding during the war, as Methodists were suspected of being Tory sympathizers. After the war ended, he became the leader of American Methodism, and John Wesley appointed him and Thomas Coke as superintendents of the independent United States.
Although unknown at the time, Asbury would be the only Methodist missionary to stay in America during the Revolutionary War. He remained in hiding during the war, as Methodists were suspected of being Tory sympathizers. After the war ended, he became the leader of American Methodism, and John Wesley appointed him and Thomas Coke as superintendents of the independent United States.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Methodist/Pietist Family: Other ARDA LinksMethodist/Pietist Family: Religious Family Tree
Biographies
Asbury, FrancisRelated Dictionary Terms
Wesley, John (1703-1791)Photographs
Francis Asbury riding- Internet Archive- from The Heart of Asbury's Journal
Francis Asbury portrait- Internet Archive- from The Heart of Asbury's Journal
First Methodist Conference in America, 1773- Internet Archive- from The Heart of Asbury's Journal
Asbury's Southern circuit map- Internet Archive- from The Heart of Asbury's Journal
Book/Journal Source(s)
Queen, Edward, Stephen Prothero and Gardiner Shattuck, 1996. The Encyclopedia of American Religious History New York: Facts on File.Web Page Contributor
Benjamin T. GurrentzAffliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Sociology
