Methodist Publications, 1855–1919

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Methodist Publications, 1855–1919

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An image of the Wesleys' "Holy Club" meeting at Oxford.

The London Quarterly Review, Primitive Methodist Review, and Holborn Review

A monarch while he lived, Wesley left Methodism to be a republic after he died.

Dr. Peter Forsaith, Oxford Brookes University

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Examine the ideas and influence of Methodism through denominational periodicals

Official record of the Holston Annual Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church.

John Wesley (1703-1791) was an English cleric who lead a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism in the 18^th century. After Wesley's death, internal schisms led to a splintering of the original faith. The rival Methodist denominations included the Wesleyan Methodists, Primitive Methodists, and United Methodists.

This collection contains copies of periodicals that chart the debates between and within these denominations: the Primitive Methodist Quarterly Review & Christian Ambassador (1887-1909), Holborn Review (1910-1919), and The London Quarterly Review and Christian Ambassador (1855-1919).

Primitive Methodist Quarterly Review & Christian Ambassador and Holborn Review were edited by Primitive Methodists. In contrast, The London Quarterly Review and Christian Ambassador was a Wesleyan publication.

Contents

Highlights

Black text reading The London Review Volume XIII, published in October, 1859, and January, 1860.

Licensed to access The London Quarterly Review, 1855-1859

The early issues of 'The London Quarterly Review' were edited by Thomas McNicoll. Following the practice of other periodicals of the day, articles went unsigned.

Black text reading The Primitive Methodist Quarterly Review, edited by John Watson, D. D.

Licensed to access Primitive Methodist Quarterly Review, 1900

At the turn of the 20th century, the 'Primitive Methodist Quarterly Review' included many book reviews, particularly on biblical and theological matters.

Section of the contents page of The Holborn Review, A Continuation of the Primitive Methodist Quarterly Review, dated January 1910.

Licensed to access Holborn Review, 1910

Under the stewardship of H.B. Kendall, the 'Holborn Review' of this period was relatively highbrow, including essays on a wide range of subjects, from Shakespeare to the Tolpuddle Martyrs.

Black text reading The London Quarterly Review, edited by the Rev. John Telford, B. A., published in January and April, 1916.

Licensed to access The London Quarterly Review during the Great War

According to Michael Hughes, "British Methodism never really developed a coherent doctrine of war." This moral and practical ambivalence was reflected in the pages of the 'Review' throughout the war of 1914-18.

Insights

Primitive Methodism was a major working-class movement in English Methodism from 1810 to the Methodist Union of 1932. The Methodist Union united various groups in a new body known simply as ‘The Methodist Church’.
In 1854, the Sunderland Primitive Methodist District Ministerial Association started to publish a periodical called the 'Christian Ambassador', which consisted of lectures given at its meetings. In 1878, this periodical evolved and was renamed the 'Primitive Methodist Quarterly Review & Christian Ambassador'. In print from 1879 to 1909, it was a serious and intellectual periodical. Subjects covered include religious history, philosophy, theology, homiletics, and literature.
'The Holborn Review' was a continuation of the 'Primitive Methodist Quarterly Review & Christian Ambassador'. It was published under various titles during the period 1910-1932. The issues available are mostly edited by Minister H.B. Kendall. As well as being an editor, Kendall was a successful author and historian.
'The London Quarterly Review' was a Wesleyan publication founded in 1853 with the backing of significant members of the Wesleyan Methodist church. Under the long editorship of W.B. Pope (1862-1886), its scope was wide-ranging and its tone broadly conservative. Editor J.H. Rigg (1883-1898) reduced the price and adopted a more popular style of article.
The 19th century saw a significant expansion of the printed word. Technological developments and higher literacy rates contributed to the growth of Methodism through print culture.

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