Crumbs from the Table

When I moved to Greater Manchester in 2021, I was surprised to discover that the major evangelical churches, in particular City Church Manchester and Grace Church Manchester, were only recently planted. I wanted to find out about the historic Manchester evangelical churches.   (1694) Cross Street Chapel (Presbyterian) was founded by Rev. Henry Newcome, who had been ejected from the Church of England in 1662. Like many English Presbyterian churches, it is now a Unitarian church.  (1747) First mention of a Methodist society in Manchester, meeting on Deansgate.  (1751) First Methodist Chapel in Manchester in Birchin Lane off Church Street (1775-1969) Mosley Street Independent Chapel. From 1848 Cavendish Street Congregational Chapel . Closed 1969.   (1781) Oldham Street Chapel (Methodist). Now Methodist Central Chapel. (1791) Gravel Lane, Salford (Methodist) Black Lane Chapel, later known as St George's Street Chapel, and then as Rochdale Road Particular Bapt...

This post was inspired by a talk given by James Mollitt at a recent pastors' fraternal in Bolton. It is also based on the book "Assist me to proclaim" by John Tyson.  Charles Wesley was an Anglican Christian pastor who lived in the 1700s. He is best known as a hymn-writer, and as the brother of John Wesley. Both brothers were leading figures in what is known as the Methodist Revival, a revival of Protestant faith in Britain which began around the time of Charles' and John's conversion in 1738.  Charles was born in 1707, the son of Christian parents, Samuel and Susannah Wesley, who had become High Church Anglicans from a non-Anglican background. Samuel Wesley was the Christian minister of the parish of Epworth. It was a large family and they lived in the rectory (pastor's residence). One day the rectory caught fire and all the children had to be rescued.  Having studied well at school, Charles won a scholarship (paid place) at Oxford University. At university C...