For Methodists, May 24th each year is Wesley Day. Either on that day or on the Sunday nearest to it they think of the founder of the Methodist Church. It is not Wesley's birthday, he was born on June 17th, 1703. Nor is it the anniversary of his death; he died on March 3rd, 1791. On May 24th, 1738, at a Moravian meeting in a room just off Aldersgate Street, London, probably in Nettleton Court, he had a heartwarming experience which revitalised his faith, and although it was not until the following year that he began the travels from which the Methodist Church began, his followers have chosen to emphasise the moment of religious inspiration without which it would not have been possible.
On a Saturday close to May 24th the members of the Wesley Historical Society in Ireland have traditionally visited some place of significance in Methodist development. On Saturday last they toured the Finaghy circuit between Belfast and Lisburn. At Derriaghy in 1775 Wesley lay seriously ill for some days at the home of the Gayer family, and although the house no longer stands, there is still a yew tree there under the shade of which Wesley preached on a later visit. Two of the great 19th century Methodist preachers are buried side by side in Lambeg Churchyard: John Johnson, who was English, and John Bredin, who was Irish. Just across the river from the graveyard are two beech trees which were saplings when Wesley came here in 1787. He intertwined some of their branches, and these have continued to grow, interlocked through the centuries. Tradition has it that Wesley intertwined the two in token of his wish that the Methodist societies and the Church of Ireland would work closely together. It was after his death that their ways separated.
It is appropriate to remember this curious little episode of 213 years ago in the light of business which has just come before the Church of Ireland General Synod, and will come before the Methodist Conference in a few days' time. The Joint Theological Working Party, which the two churches established some years ago, has drafted a Covenant which would commit them both to close co-operation in mission and in the use of property. The General Synod has asked that this be studied by the members of the church at local levels during the coming months, and it will be proposed to the Conference that Methodists should do the same. The working party hopes that the Covenant will be concluded in 2001.
For many years the Methodist Conference met in Methodist churches in one place or another. In recent years in Cork and Enniskillen other venues have been found, and this year Belfast is for the first time hosting the Conference outside Methodist premises.
The meetings will be in Stranmillis University College from June 9th to June 13th. The major evening services, the installation of the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland on the Friday and the Ordination Service on the Sunday, will be in Fisherwick Presbyterian Church.
There are two candidates for the ministry this year. It is probable that three students will leave college to begin probation on circuit. There are four candidates for ordination. These figures should be taken in relation to the fact that there are 122 ministers in service in Ireland at present, and another 10 serving overseas, or in community organisations.
It may be useful for those travelling to Europe on holiday this summer to know that Methodist services in English are held in the following cities: Vienna, Copenhagen, Bielefeld, Berlin, Dortmund, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Milan, Rome, and Valletta.
The President of the church, the Rev Dr Kenneth Wilson, will be the preacher tomorrow at the Methodist Church in Glenburn, Belfast, where he was minister from 1982 to 1990. On Sunday, June 4th, he will preach at Dundonald, also in Belfast. On Friday evening, June 9th, he will pass the presidential office to his successor, the Rev Kenneth Todd, at present minister of the Cork circuit.
RTE Radio 1 will broadcast morning service tomorrow at 10.45 from Christ Church, Limerick. This will be led by the ministers, the Rev David Range and the Rev C.J. Walter. The congregation in the church is a union of Methodists and Presbyterians.
On June 4th the Rev Norman Brooks will be the preacher at evening service in Clontarf Methodist Church, Dublin, at 7 o'clock. Mr Brooks was born in Dublin, and as a young man emigrated to New Zealand. There he entered the ministry of the Methodist church, and a few years ago was president of the New Zealand Methodist Conference. He is at present on a short visit to his native land.
ECONI is planning a two-day conference on "Seek the Welfare of the City", to take place in Grosvenor House, Belfast, on September 25th and 26th. It will examine church co-operation in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Details may be had from ECONI at Belfast 9032 5258.
