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Home of the 'first rise' of Methodism

JOHN Wesley's Oxford period began when he left Charterhouse School in 1720 and, within a week of his 17th birthday, with a scholarship of £40 a year, matriculated at Christ Church College. He took to the academic life of Oxford where he remained, apart from one break, for the next 15 years.

As an undergraduate he had a reputation for wit and disputation. He was apparently cheerful and high-spirited, played tennis and became a strong swimmer. He also wrote his first poem to a flea and sent a poetic paraphrase of the 65th Psalm to his father, who was delighted. But his mother warned him: "Make poetry sometimes your diversion, though never your business."

At that time Oxford University was described as being in a state of moral decay with Christ Church College, apparently, having a reputation for the loose living of its students but John Wesley would seem not to have been guilty of any great sins while he was living there.

He graduated in 1724 and on September 19 1725 was ordained deacon by Bishop Potter. He delivered his first sermon shortly afterwards at Fleet-Marston, a small village east of Oxford. Before his ordination he drew up a plan to regulate his waking hours, beginning a diary in which he kept track of his life and noted, among other things, the sins he committed such as careless anger, levity and intemperate sleep.

Wesley's pivotal move to Lincoln College

In March 1726 his father was able to announce with pride, "My Jack is a fellow of Lincoln College." Lincoln College, unlike Christ Church, had a reputation for religion and Wesley welcomed the change. As a fellow he received free board and lodging, with a small stipend which was increased when he became Greek lecturer and class moderator.

Already Wesley had begun to show a zeal for souls. He was ordained priest in 1728, having left Oxford the previous year to assist his father in his parish duties in Epworth and Wroote. In 1729 his college recalled him and on his return he found his brother, Charles, then an undergraduate at Christ Church College, had become a serious student of the faith.

John joined with him and William Morgan, also of Christ Church, in studying the Greek Testament and in attending the Sacrament on Sundays. They were joined by Robert Kirkham of Merton College and began a regular schedule of study this was the beginning of the "Holy Club" and was looked back on by Wesley as the "first rise of Methodism".

The 'Holy Club' visits Castle Prison

Morgan introduced them to the social work for which the group became known by describing the sorry state of the city gaol. On August 24 1730 the two brothers and Morgan visited the Castle Prison and after this became frequent prison visitors.

In Oxford Castle there is a group of cells where by tradition they visited weekly to preach and take food, fuel and medicine for the prisoners. They also celebrated Holy Communion monthly. Oxford Castle ceased to be a prison in 1996 and over the next few years will be redeveloped in a partnership between heritage and commercial uses.

The "Wesley Cells" should become publicly accessible. The plan is that people viewing them will be able to understand not only the desperate conditions in prisons before John HowardÕs reforms but also the reality of the love of God as preached and practised by the early Methodists which began a tradition which continues today.

Besides this social work, the men became well known for their religious observances. They took the Sacrament as often as possible, fasted twice a week, recited a collect at the hours of nine, 12 and three and spent a portion of each day in meditation. As a result they were known by a series of unflattering names Holy club, Godly club, Bible Moths, Supererogation Men and Methodists the name that finally stuck in 1732.

Wesley's change of direction

After Wesley's return from Georgia in 1738 and following his May 24 conversion in Aldersgate Street, London, his ministry assumed a new confidence. "When I was at Oxford," he wrote later, "I lived almost like a hermit. I saw not how any busy man could be saved. God taught me better by my own experience."

However, he no longer felt his mission was to the university. Thereafter, until the first Methodist preaching house was used in 1738, he preached in private houses when he visited Oxford and, although undergraduates often came to hear him preach, he was largely ignored by the university that he had once loved so well.

On June 11 1738 he preached a university sermon on "Salvation by Faith" and on July 25 1741 on the "Almost Christian". "Scriptural Christianity" on August 24 1744 was his last university sermon in which he criticised the university for its sluggishness and spiritual apathy.

The Vice-Chancellor sent for Wesley's sermon notes but took no action. For Wesley it was the end of his university connection. "I preached, I suppose, the last time at St MaryÕs," he wrote in his Journal. "Be it so; I have fully delivered my soul." He resigned his fellowship at Lincoln College on his marriage in 1751.

Wesley and Methodist Study centre

On the outskirts of Oxford is the Wesley and Methodist Study centre (WMSC) at the Westminster Institute of Education at Oxford Brookes University (incorporating the former Westminster College).

The centre, formed in 1993, exists to promote research into the study and practice of Methodism, its history and the way in which the Methodist Church today forms its theology and informs its ministry. It is part of the new Westminster Institute of Education at Oxford Brookes University.

The centre's aims are: to provide a well-resourced research centre for those pursuing studies in the history and theology of Methodism; to develop programmes of training and reflection for ministerial students and for those on study leave from the United Kingdom and overseas; to facilitate study tours of Oxford and the environs for those who wish to explore sites of interest in the history of Methodism and to publish material, organise conferences and seminars for research purposes.

The centre's courses include an MPhil/PhD programme, short courses for graduates and pastors in contextual theology and study-leave facilities using the extensive library resources. From September 2000 a new degree of MA in Methodist Studies was offered, breaking new ground not only for the centre, but also nationally and internationally. There are also two Doctor of Ministry courses run in conjunction with the Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, designed to broaden an awareness of Wesleyan and Methodist theology and history as well as explore the diverse notions of spirituality, culture and mission.

Wesley Memorial church

The main Methodist church in Oxford is the Wesley Memorial church.

The first Methodist meeting house in Oxford was in the building which is now 32-34 New Inn Hall Street, then, as now, part of Brasenose College. (There is unfortunately no admission to these premises.) A plaque on the wall commemorates the fact that John Wesley preached there on July 14 1783 and on several later occasions. The Methodist cause grew and in 1817 a new meeting house was built, on a site behind the present church.

By mid-century the cause was flourishing; the foundation stones for the present church were laid in 1877 and the building opened for worship in 1878. Although the style was clearly Victorian, there are a number of original features. In 1978, at the time of the centenary celebrations, the original pews were replaced with more flexible modern chairs.

Stonework renovation and improvements to the front of the church and the vestibule area have been completed the scheme collecting an environmental award from the Oxford Preservation Trust. It is also intended to have displays in the vestibule about the Wesleys, their connection to Oxford and Methodism in Oxford. The church has also won an award from Oxford in Bloom for the best kept garden in the centre of Oxford.

Today Wesley Memorial is a lively city centre church with a congregation embracing people from a wide range of other Church backgrounds enriched by visitors from other parts of Britain and from overseas. Students worship at Wesley during their time in Oxford, many belonging to the John Wesley Society.

The choir makes an important contribution to Sunday morning worship with music from many different traditions. Wesley Memorial is committed to an open church policy throughout the week as a means of witnessing to the Christian life in the city centre.

Features of interest inside the church include: