How vital were they in Norwich?

In November 1764, John Wesley preached for a few days in Norwich to larger and larger gatherings. The response led to this note in his journal:

If I could stay here a month, I think there would be a society little inferior to that at Bristol. But it must not be; they who will bear sound doctrine only from me, must still believe a lie.

I take his point to be against the celebrity preacher and in favor of moving preachers precisely because the attachment to a single pastor — in this case John Wesley himself — is dangerous to the souls of men and women.

It is all the more interesting to me because Wesley clearly sees the potential to grow the society if he would just stay there for a while. But he sees that a society that is built on the foundation of the preacher is built on sand.

The point is underscored by his journal entry of a few days prior where he expresses exasperation at how “changeable” the society has been over the years. He recounts the rising and falling membership like this.

1755 – 83

1757 – 134

1758 – 110

1759 – 760

The increase in 1759 Wesley credits to the society taking on “the Tabernacle,” which drew in many followers of Calvinist Methodist James Wheatley, who Wesley described as “deeply ignorant; all bullocks unaccustomed to the yoke.” (This web page has a brief background on Methodism in Norwich and the Tabernacle. You have to scroll down to get to the entry on James Wheatley.)

1760 – 507

1761 – 412

1762 – 630

1763 – 310

The big fall off Wesley attributed to putting an end to the serving of the sacrament at the Tabernacle.

1764 – 174

Here we see Wesley’s careful counting of the people. He obviously cared about numbers. But he appeared to place more importance on what he deemed proper order (withdrawing the sacrament) and good practice (itinerancy) than with propping up numbers.

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