Category Archives: Epworth

Jul 26 2014
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Epworth, Trip, United Kingdom

Restoring the Wesley family home in Epworth

The Old Rectory in Epworth UK is held on trust by the British Methodist Church for the World Methodist Council. It is part of Methodist Heritage which oversees Methodist heritage sites in Britain including:

  • Wesley’s Chapel, the Museum of Methodism and John Wesley’s House and Tomb at City Road, London
  • The New Room, John Wesley’s Chapel at the Horsefair, Bristol
  • Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum of Primitive Methodism, near Crewe

The Epworth Old Rectory souvenir guide indicates

Plans are well advanced to complete the process of returning the rectory to the way it may have looked when the Wesleys lived there. Much research has been carried out so that the restoration is as near to the original as possible. It is a major project that entails installing underfloor hearing, replacing floors with traditional materials and analysis of wall finishes. Alongside this is a plan to improve access, interpretation and visitor facilities. The project has four phases:

  • Putting the hearth back into the home and external conservation
  • Improving access and interpretation
  • Restoring the Rectory
  • New visitor center and car park extension

rectory renovation project

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Jul 26 2014
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Epworth, Trip, United Kingdom

Rev Graham Carter discusses the Old Rectory in Epworth, UK

John Wesley’s life began in Epworth, UK. His family lived in the Rectory in the northern England community where his father served as the Anglican pastor. One of the shaping moments in young John’s life was a fire that destroyed the rectory. He was trapped in a second floor room and the family was unable to return to the house to save him. Neighbors formed a human ladder and pulled him from the flames as the room’s ceiling crashed down in flames. This fire occurred in February 1709. By December of that year, the family had returned to their new home at the site, the building today known as the Old Rectory. It is Methodist Heritage site. A Board of Trustees heads an organization working to restore the building that now serves as museum honoring John and Charles Wesley. Rev. Graham Carter chairs the board. He talks with us about the family and the house.

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Jul 04 2014
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Epworth, Trip

Visiting the Wesley family home

We left Kings Cross station early Friday for Doncaster several hours to the north of London. From there we attempted to drive to Epworth and the Old Rectory. We talked with Rev Graham Carter who heads the Old Rectory Board of Trustees about the Wesley family and the home where they lived for 40 years. Carter talked about Samuel Wesley, a church leader in Epworth and his wife Susannah who raised their 3 sons and 7 daughters.

In coming weeks we will have video and photos from the Old Rectory,  a historical treasure of the Methodist faith.

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The Old Rectory in Epworth UK

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Amy, our tour guide, describing the restoration work in kitchen.

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Jun 19 2014
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Epworth

Epworth discusses protecting Wesley headstone

The Scunthorpe Telegraph reports the Epworth Town Council has discussed safeguarding historic headstones.

The clerk has been asked to get quotes for insurance to cover damage by vandalism in the whole closed churchyard, after which the council will look at the next steps moving forward.

Brothers John and Charles Wesley are credited with founding the Methodist movement.  They were born in Epworth in the early 18th century.  Their father, Samuel Wesley, was the rector of Epworth from 1695 to 1735 and their childhood home, the Old Rectory, is now a tourist attraction.

Samuel Wesley’s grave to be insured against vandals

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