This day in Methodist history

Francis Asbury (unknown artist)

Ordination of Francis Asbury

From our friends at the Museum of Methodism—

Francis Asbury was born on this day in 1745. He became one of the first two bishops in the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States.

He was ordained by Thomas Coke in 1784, who himself had been ordained by John Wesley. Charles Wesley was furious that John had ordained Thomas Coke, and further angered when Coke then ordained Asbury.

Charles’ concern was that the Methodists would split from the Church of England, which they eventually did. Whilst Charles and John did repair their relationship, John’s actions in relation to the ordination of bishops certainly caused a rift between them.

Images: Portrait of Francis Asbury, early 1800s, unknown artist. Engraving of ordination of Francis Asbury by Thomas Coke at the 1784 Baltimore Conference. Charles Wesley’s handwritten ditty about the ordination of Francis Asbury.