Free Methodist Church - Timeline Event
Founder
Benjamin Titus Roberts and John Wesley Redfield
Time Period
1860
Description
Clergymen Benjamin Titus Roberts (1823-1893) in the East and John Wesley Redfield (1810-1863) in the Midwest founded the Free Methodist Church. Both men had accused the Methodist Episcopal Church of increasing worldliness (e.g., participation in secret societies, ornate church buildings, and pew rentals). Moreover, they were Holiness advocates who supported Phoebe Palmer’s "shorter way" to entire sanctification. After being expelled from their local religious bodies, they joined together to form the Free Methodist Church, with the word "free" indicating free pews, freedom for slaves, and freedom in worship.
Today, the Free Methodist Church continues to combine traditional Methodist doctrine and government with the possibility of entire sanctification emphasized by the Holiness movement.
Today, the Free Methodist Church continues to combine traditional Methodist doctrine and government with the possibility of entire sanctification emphasized by the Holiness movement.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Holiness FamilyHoliness Family: Other ARDA Links
Holiness Family: Religious Family Tree
Methodist/Pietist Family: Other ARDA Links
Methodist/Pietist Family: Religious Family Tree
Photographs
First Free Methodist Church building erected- Hathi Trust
Benjamin T Roberts portrait- Internet Archive
John Wesley Redfield portrait- Internet Archive
Campground at Pekin, NY, where the Free Methodist Church was organized- Hathi Trust
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Free Methodist World Ministries Center- Wikimedia Commons- photo by Xnatedawgx (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Book/Journal Source(s)
Lippy, Charles, and Peter Williams, 2010. Encyclopedia of Religion in America Washington, D.C.: CQ Press.Reid, Daniel, Robert Linder, Bruce Shelley, and Harry Stout, 1990. Dictionary of Christianity in America Downers Grove, IL.
Web Page Contributor
Benjamin T. GurrentzAffliated with: Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. in Sociology
