Methodism in Newfoundland, 1855-1884.

Winsor, Naboth (1970) Methodism in Newfoundland, 1855-1884. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This study is an attempt to understand the growth and nature of Newfoundland Methodism during the period 1855 to 1884. In 1855 the Newfoundland District of the English Wesleyan Methodist Church became a district of the newly-formed Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Eastern British America. By 1884 when a union of four branches of Methodism in Canada formed the Methodist Church, with ten conferences, one of which was the Newfoundland Conference organized in 1874, Methodism in Newfoundland was well established and encircled the whole island. -- Methodism, which had its beginning in an environment conducive to its birth, and developed a discipline essential to its growth, under the dynamic leadership and control of its founder, John Wesley, a priest of the Established Church of England, was planted in Newfoundland in 1765. -- By 1855 there were in Newfoundland fourteen stations, a membership of 2,586, and approximately 18,500 persons - sixteen per cent of the population - who were Methodists. -- Because from 1855 to 1884 the Methodists increased in a far greater proportion than the population, a factual and to some measure, detailed account is given of the location, extent and nature of the growth, which would not have been possible without the features of Methodism next described. -- The Church and education in Newfoundland being closely interwoven, a short survey is given of the role in education played by the Methodists. -- As knowledge of the Newfoundland environment is required in order to understand Methodism’s growth, a very brief outline history of the other Communions, and of the political, economic and social conditions is included. -- Finally, with due regard to the religious and secular setting of the period, an assessment of Methodism’s contribution is attempted.

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