Methodist Episcopal Church - Timeline Event
Time Period
1784
Description
The Methodist Episcopal Church was founded at the Christmas Conference of 1784 as a response to the practical concerns of Methodists in the United States. Anglican ministers were the only ones allowed to administer the sacraments of baptism and holy communion, but since many left during the Revolutionary War, it became a problem for Methodist societies. Therefore, John and Charles Wesley "allowed" those in the United States to found the Methodist Episcopal Church and ordain their own ministers, despite initially being opposed the idea of separating from the Church of England. At this time, both Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury became ordained ecclesiastical leaders of the church.
The Methodist Episcopal Church would later experience tremendous growth due to the revivals of the Second Great Awakening.
The Methodist Episcopal Church would later experience tremendous growth due to the revivals of the Second Great Awakening.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Methodist/Pietist Family: Other ARDA LinksMethodist/Pietist Family: Religious Family Tree
Biographies
Asbury, FrancisCoke, Thomas
Related Dictionary Terms
Denomination, Methodist-Pietist FamilyPhotographs
Ordination of Francis Asbury- Internet Archive- from The Heart of Asbury's Journal
Francis Asbury portrait- Internet Archive- from The Heart of Asbury's Journal
Thomas Coke portrait- Internet Archive- from The Life of the Rev. Thomas Coke by Jonathan Crowther
Book/Journal Source(s)
Reid, Daniel, Robert Linder, Bruce Shelley, and Harry Stout, 1990. Dictionary of Christianity in America Downers Grove, IL.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
