Methodism
The origins of Methodism can be traced back to two ordained clergymen of the Anglican Church, John Wesley, founder and his brother, Charles Wesley. The Wesley brothers were born in an Anglican Rectory at Epworth, Lincolnshire on June 17, 1703 and December 18, 1707, respectively. In the evening of 24th May 1738, John Wesley attended a Moravian service in Aldersgate Street. While there, he experienced the change that God works in the heart through faith in Christ. He wrote about this conversion experience in Hymn No. 361 in the Methodist Hymn Book, “Where shall my wondering soul begin”. Verse two of that hymn reads:
“O how shall I the goodness tell,
Father, which Thou to me hast showed?
That I, a child of wrath and hell,
I should be called a child of God,
Should know, should feel my sins forgiven,
Blest with this antepast of heaven!”
His brother, Charles, had had a similar experience a few days earlier and the change in the two men was considerable. Together, they brought about a spiritual and social revolution which some historians believe diverted England from political revolution in the late 18th Century.
Not only was John Wesley a good preacher, but also an adept organizer. The year 1742 therefore saw the birth of the “class” system within the Church aimed at providing support and caring and team work for fund-raising,within small groups called classes. Prior to his death in 1791, he made provisions for the continuance of the faith under the leadership of the Methodist Conference.
As Methodism spread throughout England, missionaries travelled to other territories, including the rest of Europe, the United States of America, Australia, Asia and Africa and of course, the Caribbean.
Dominica was the second West Indian Island to be visited. On 5th January 1787, Dr. Thomas Coke with three other itinerant Methodist Preachers, John Baxter and William Hammet arrived in Dominica, landing at Portsmouth. The Captain of the sloop had told them of a sympathetic planter named Burn, and they sought him out immediately after landing. He welcomed them and encouraged them to begin a Mission on the island. Coke and his party then journeyed on to Roseau where they met a mulatto woman – Mrs. Webley – who had been converted in Antigua under the preaching of John Baxter. She opened her house to the Missionaries and it was there that Coke preached to a packed audience.
Coke left the island a few days later, and unfortunately did not leave a Missionary. He did not return to Dominica until the 19th of December 1788, nearly two years later. When he did so, he found that a small Methodist Society had been established. Mrs. Webley had gathered and kept together a little Society of about twenty persons, some of whom had been members of Societies in Antigua and St. Kitts. It appeared then that Dr. Coke seemed to have doubted whether the venture in this island would prove successful (because the Roman Catholic faith was strongly entrenched), yet he decided to appoint a Missionary.
Rev. William McCornock was appointed and a few weeks later commenced his new duties. Within six months, he had died. Malaria and yellow fever carried off several of the early Missionaries on the island; of the first ten missionaries appointed to Dominica, eight died and the other two broke down in health and had to leave. Sometimes, several months and even years elapsed between the death of one minister and the stationing of another. Mrs. Webley kept the Society going during those Minister-less years.
The small Society in Dominica continued to experience other difficulties. Eight years after the first missionary was appointed to Dominica, the planters and some others began to oppose the Society. Then there were financial difficulties. It took such a long time for the Society to pay for the house that it had secured as its meeting place that the original owner reclaimed possession of it. Shortly afterwards, it was destroyed by a hurricane.
In 1814, it was thought best to abandon the Mission. The trouble stirred up by the planters resulted in a dwindling of the members. There were only six members left and all of them were women, and three of them could not write. However, in that year, a planter by the name of Daker who had been a Methodist formerly, was converted and joined the Society and worked hard in it. In that same year also, they lost their Minister and it was not until 1816 that he was replaced. The new Minister, Rev. Jeremiah Boothby, and Mr. Daker saw to the securing of a new building for the Society. In 1817, Methodist work was permanently established in Portsmouth, and shortly afterwards a piece of land was obtained from the Government for the erection of a chapel.
Meanwhile, the property in Roseau was in danger from the mortgagers who were pressing the Methodists for financial and other reasons. However, in 1818, the Chairman of the District persuaded the Missionary Committee in London to shoulder the debt. The Dominica Methodists breathed a sigh of relief. In 1822, the Roseau Chapel was built. In 1824 the work spread to Marigot when land was secured at Lasoye Point.
In 1819, the Methodist Church in Dominica was referred to as “an old wreck against which the waves are perpetually dashing”. The troubles and sufferings persisted despite the efforts of the Societies. In the yard at the back of the Church in Roseau are the tombstones erected over the graves of Missionaries and their families who died while on service in this island. Inside the Church are several tablets commemorating the service of several Laymen.
During 1959, the Marigot Church was extended to house the increasing congregation. This is our largest Congregation in the island. In 1960, the erection of a chapel at Clifton was completed. Congregations were also established in Layou, Castle Bruce, Wesley and Hampstead/Calibishie. The Congregation at Grand Bay no longer meets.
Today, Methodism in Dominica is facing major challenges. However, our founders and the several Missionaries and Laymen served faithfully in spite of those difficulties and have willed to us a legacy of commitment, endurance and undying faith. It is therefore up to us to rise to the occasion and to confront those challenges with optimism, hope and fortitude, confident in our belief in the words of Hymn No. 699, verse 3 which read:
“See the Gospel Church secure,
And founded on a rock;
All her promises are sure;
Her bulwarks who can shock?
Tell, to after-ages tell,
Fortified by power divine,
The Church can never fail.”
In a report of April 1803 the number of Methodists in the Society in Dominica was about 700. Let us see what the membership is like today:
Castle Bruce -2
Marigot -458
Wesley -194
Calibishie -29
Portsmouth -148
Clifton -23
Layou -27
Roseau -412
Can we see a challenge here? Over the past 218 years, Methodism in Dominica flourished, despite the stronghold of the Catholic religion; but, for multiple reasons, it is currently on the decline. However, we have a goodly heritage, sent by God into all the world to preach the gospel of a Risen Lord. Let each of us plant that seed which will grow and bear much fruit: a seed rooted in the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and in the legacy of our Fathers, John and Charles Wesley.
Compiled by Sister Irma Edwards
References:
“The Kindling of the Flame, Methodist Bicentenary Celebrations, 1960
“A Call to Christian Stewardship – A Challenge for the 21st Century”
“Commemorative Magazine of the 196th Conference of the Leeward Islands District – Dominica Circuit”
