COLLECTION NAME:
Methodist Collection
mediaCollectionId
Manchester~19~19
Methodist Collection
Collection
true
Image Number:
PLP_5_6_54.pdf
image_number
PLP_5_6_54.pdf
Image Number
false
Reference Number:
PLP/5/6/54
reference_number
PLP/5/6/54
Reference Number
false
Link to Catalogue:
Series Title:
Loose Letters of Samuel Bardsley, 1769-1817 (1769-1780)
title_series
Loose Letters of Samuel Bardsley, 1769-1817 (1769-1780)
Series Title
false
Parent Work Title:
Letter from Samuel Bardsley to John Wesley
title_larger_entity
Letter from Samuel Bardsley to John Wesley
Parent Work Title
false
Creator:
Bardsley, Samuel, 1769-1817
creator
Bardsley, Samuel, 1769-1817
Creator
false
Creator Role:
Author
creator_role
Author
Creator Role
false
Date Created:
1784-02-16
date_created
1784-02-16
Date Created
false
Description:
From Congleton to John Wesley in London. Bardsley regards it as a great mercy that Wesley's valuable life is spared to them and that he is permitted to favour Bardsley with his good advice from time to time.
When Bardsley was informed of his stationing in Macclesfield, he was thankful to God and to Wesley himself, however when he arrived and found the Methodists here were divided, he was grieved and did not know what to do. He therefore prayed for wisdom and believes that it was answered. Bardsley was asked to join a 'party' but as he has seen the dreadful consequences of 'forming parties among our people', he determined to avoid such an attachment and to work for peace. He therefore went to those who were prejudiced against [James] Rogers [Bardsley's colleague in the circuit] and tried to remove their prejudice. He found that their minds were very 'sore' but managed to persuade some to come and hear Rogers preach and 'blessed be God, their minds were greatly changed for the better though they do not often hear him as they have said so much to the contrary. I am really sorry that these things should happen as I am fully persuaded they greatly hinder the work of God'. He hopes that this storm will blow over and that they shall see more prosperous days than ever in this circuit.
The Methodists in Macclesfield and Congleton 'who have been offended have done much for God's cause, and they still love it, and if you Revd. Sir will look over anything you have thought wrong in them and send them such preachers the next year as they love and esteem, they will do anything for them and all our differences will be made up'.
The people behave very kindly towards Bardsley and he often feels God's help in speaking to them. Wesley should pray for them.
Bardsley's mind has been much troubled with the afflictions suffered by dear [Martha] Rogers [the former Martha Knowlden, wife of Bardsley's colleague James Rogers] . 'She has behaved so well ever since I knew her that I have felt much on the occasion. I hope the Lord will sanctify this dispensation of his providence to us all'. She seems to be very close to death and the 'Lord supports her in a wonderfull manner.' Her husband James stays with her constantly - Mr Evans has taken his circuit duties and they are managing alright.
Bardsley feels that God is carrying on his work in his soul. 'I do so desire so to walk and please him, that the gospel be not blamed'.
He begs that Wesley contiues to advise Bardsley as he is directed to do so by the Lord. He would be grateful to receive a few lines - these should be sent to the Macclesfield chapel.
In a postscript, he expresses the hope that Wesley visits them before long and that the Lord will come with him and make the visit a 'means of great good both to us, and your own soul'.
Bardsley was very grateful for Wesley putting his likeness in the Arminian Magazine [volume 7 1784 January].
[In 1783 James Rogers was appointed the Assistant or senior preacher for the Macclesfield circuit. In making the administrative arrangements following a circuit division, Rogers found it impossible to please everyone and was the subject of several complaints. Particular anger was felt by members of the Congleton society and appeals were made to John Wesley himself. The dispute was so bitter that Wesley felt it necessary to visit the circuit in person. In the journal entry describing his meeting with the several parties on August 30th 1783, Wesley expressed the hope that tempers were calming down; Bardsley's letter written nearly five months later reveals that his cautious optimism was somewhat premature. Source: The History of Methodism in Macclesfield by Revd. B. Smith (London: Wesleyan Conference Office, 1875), 193-194]
[This letter may bear the wrong date - see 5/6.53]
[John Wesley's response to this letter does not appear to have survived. He did however write to Bardsley from London on February 13th (three days before Bardsley's letter was written) and the content of this letter is not incompatible with it being a reply to PLP 5/6.54; there is therefore a possibility that one of the two letters is wrongly dated. See The Letters of John Wesley, edited by John Telford (London Epworth Press, 1931), vol.VII, 209]
When Bardsley was informed of his stationing in Macclesfield, he was thankful to God and to Wesley himself, however when he arrived and found the Methodists here were divided, he was grieved and did not know what to do. He therefore prayed for wisdom and believes that it was answered. Bardsley was asked to join a 'party' but as he has seen the dreadful consequences of 'forming parties among our people', he determined to avoid such an attachment and to work for peace. He therefore went to those who were prejudiced against [James] Rogers [Bardsley's colleague in the circuit] and tried to remove their prejudice. He found that their minds were very 'sore' but managed to persuade some to come and hear Rogers preach and 'blessed be God, their minds were greatly changed for the better though they do not often hear him as they have said so much to the contrary. I am really sorry that these things should happen as I am fully persuaded they greatly hinder the work of God'. He hopes that this storm will blow over and that they shall see more prosperous days than ever in this circuit.
The Methodists in Macclesfield and Congleton 'who have been offended have done much for God's cause, and they still love it, and if you Revd. Sir will look over anything you have thought wrong in them and send them such preachers the next year as they love and esteem, they will do anything for them and all our differences will be made up'.
The people behave very kindly towards Bardsley and he often feels God's help in speaking to them. Wesley should pray for them.
Bardsley's mind has been much troubled with the afflictions suffered by dear [Martha] Rogers [the former Martha Knowlden, wife of Bardsley's colleague James Rogers] . 'She has behaved so well ever since I knew her that I have felt much on the occasion. I hope the Lord will sanctify this dispensation of his providence to us all'. She seems to be very close to death and the 'Lord supports her in a wonderfull manner.' Her husband James stays with her constantly - Mr Evans has taken his circuit duties and they are managing alright.
Bardsley feels that God is carrying on his work in his soul. 'I do so desire so to walk and please him, that the gospel be not blamed'.
He begs that Wesley contiues to advise Bardsley as he is directed to do so by the Lord. He would be grateful to receive a few lines - these should be sent to the Macclesfield chapel.
In a postscript, he expresses the hope that Wesley visits them before long and that the Lord will come with him and make the visit a 'means of great good both to us, and your own soul'.
Bardsley was very grateful for Wesley putting his likeness in the Arminian Magazine [volume 7 1784 January].
[In 1783 James Rogers was appointed the Assistant or senior preacher for the Macclesfield circuit. In making the administrative arrangements following a circuit division, Rogers found it impossible to please everyone and was the subject of several complaints. Particular anger was felt by members of the Congleton society and appeals were made to John Wesley himself. The dispute was so bitter that Wesley felt it necessary to visit the circuit in person. In the journal entry describing his meeting with the several parties on August 30th 1783, Wesley expressed the hope that tempers were calming down; Bardsley's letter written nearly five months later reveals that his cautious optimism was somewhat premature. Source: The History of Methodism in Macclesfield by Revd. B. Smith (London: Wesleyan Conference Office, 1875), 193-194]
[This letter may bear the wrong date - see 5/6.53]
[John Wesley's response to this letter does not appear to have survived. He did however write to Bardsley from London on February 13th (three days before Bardsley's letter was written) and the content of this letter is not incompatible with it being a reply to PLP 5/6.54; there is therefore a possibility that one of the two letters is wrongly dated. See The Letters of John Wesley, edited by John Telford (London Epworth Press, 1931), vol.VII, 209]
description
From Congleton to John Wesley in London. Bardsley regards it as a great mercy that Wesley's valuable life is spared to them and that he is permitted to favour Bardsley with his good advice from time to time.
When Bardsley was informed of his stationing in Macclesfield, he was thankful to God and to Wesley himself, however when he arrived and found the Methodists here were divided, he was grieved and did not know what to do. He therefore prayed for wisdom and believes that it was answered. Bardsley was asked to join a 'party' but as he has seen the dreadful consequences of 'forming parties among our people', he determined to avoid such an attachment and to work for peace. He therefore went to those who were prejudiced against [James] Rogers [Bardsley's colleague in the circuit] and tried to remove their prejudice. He found that their minds were very 'sore' but managed to persuade some to come and hear Rogers preach and 'blessed be God, their minds were greatly changed for the better though they do not often hear him as they have said so much to the contrary. I am really sorry that these things should happen as I am fully persuaded they greatly hinder the work of God'. He hopes that this storm will blow over and that they shall see more prosperous days than ever in this circuit.
The Methodists in Macclesfield and Congleton 'who have been offended have done much for God's cause, and they still love it, and if you Revd. Sir will look over anything you have thought wrong in them and send them such preachers the next year as they love and esteem, they will do anything for them and all our differences will be made up'.
The people behave very kindly towards Bardsley and he often feels God's help in speaking to them. Wesley should pray for them.
Bardsley's mind has been much troubled with the afflictions suffered by dear [Martha] Rogers [the former Martha Knowlden, wife of Bardsley's colleague James Rogers] . 'She has behaved so well ever since I knew her that I have felt much on the occasion. I hope the Lord will sanctify this dispensation of his providence to us all'. She seems to be very close to death and the 'Lord supports her in a wonderfull manner.' Her husband James stays with her constantly - Mr Evans has taken his circuit duties and they are managing alright.
Bardsley feels that God is carrying on his work in his soul. 'I do so desire so to walk and please him, that the gospel be not blamed'.
He begs that Wesley contiues to advise Bardsley as he is directed to do so by the Lord. He would be grateful to receive a few lines - these should be sent to the Macclesfield chapel.
In a postscript, he expresses the hope that Wesley visits them before long and that the Lord will come with him and make the visit a 'means of great good both to us, and your own soul'.
Bardsley was very grateful for Wesley putting his likeness in the Arminian Magazine [volume 7 1784 January].
[In 1783 James Rogers was appointed the Assistant or senior preacher for the Macclesfield circuit. In making the administrative arrangements following a circuit division, Rogers found it impossible to please everyone and was the subject of several complaints. Particular anger was felt by members of the Congleton society and appeals were made to John Wesley himself. The dispute was so bitter that Wesley felt it necessary to visit the circuit in person. In the journal entry describing his meeting with the several parties on August 30th 1783, Wesley expressed the hope that tempers were calming down; Bardsley's letter written nearly five months later reveals that his cautious optimism was somewhat premature. Source: The History of Methodism in Macclesfield by Revd. B. Smith (London: Wesleyan Conference Office, 1875), 193-194]
[This letter may bear the wrong date - see 5/6.53]
[John Wesley's response to this letter does not appear to have survived. He did however write to Bardsley from London on February 13th (three days before Bardsley's letter was written) and the content of this letter is not incompatible with it being a reply to PLP 5/6.54; there is therefore a possibility that one of the two letters is wrongly dated. See The Letters of John Wesley, edited by John Telford (London Epworth Press, 1931), vol.VII, 209]
Description
false
Language:
eng-GB
language_name
eng-GB
Language
false
Language Code:
English
language
English
Language Code
false
Subject:
Methodism--History
subject
Methodism--History
Subject
false
Category of Material:
Archives
category
Archives
Category of Material
false
Sub-Category:
Letters (correspondence)
class
Letters (correspondence)
Sub-Category
false
Technique Used:
Handwriting
technique
Handwriting
Technique Used
false
Medium:
Ink
medium
Ink
Medium
false
Support:
Paper
support
Paper
Support
false
Creation Site:
England: Cheshire: Congleton
location_creation_site
England: Cheshire: Congleton
Creation Site
false
Time Period Covered:
18th Century CE
temporal_coverage
18th Century CE
Time Period Covered
false
Item Height:
335 mm
item_height
335 mm
Item Height
false
Item Width:
212 mm
Current Repository:
The University of Manchester Library, U.K.
current_repository
The University of Manchester Library, U.K.
Current Repository
false
Rights Holder - Image:
The University of Manchester Library
Rights Holder - Work:
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (TMCP)
Date Captured (yyyy-mm-dd):
2023-09-14
Image Creation Technique:
Digital capture by The University of Manchester Library
Date Image Added (yyyy-mm):
2023-09
Metadata Language:
eng-GB
Collection Code:
Methodist
collection_code
Methodist
Collection Code
false