[Part 1 of Mrs Chapman's "Story of Manx Methodism"]

Introduction - Early Days

The first mention of Methodism in the island is in the attendance of a Manx clergyman, John Meriton, at the 1744 Methodist Conference at The Foundery, London. While he very obviously had Methodist sympathies he either lacked the energy or the courage to work it out in the island, as many Anglican clergy did. He had not been resident here long, as was ordained deacon only. The Bishop of Norwich, writing to the Bishop of the Island gives him a poor character; he is amazed that Meriton should even wish to be associated with the reforming zeal of the Methodists for 'he is an idle fellow'.

So perhaps Methodism lost little in this connection. In the Methodist Magazine (1900) we get a picture of the man who might have established Methodism here before preachers came from 'across'. Meriton was born in 1698 and came to the island suffering from 'attenuated means' - he was befriended by the Rev. Philip Moore, master of Douglas Grammar School, and chaplain at St. Matthews. Moore believed in the practical discourses' of Meriton, and applied to Bishop Wilson 'to raise a subscription or a Sunday evening lecturer for a clergyman lately come from England' This was in 1740. His Lordship did not approve the subscription but allowed Meriton to assist at St. Matthews.

His contact with the Wesleys apparently came when he was on a visit to London, and shared a service 'on Church of England pattern' with John Wesley in a church in Wapping, Wesley preaching and Meriton taking the service. Meriton was inspired to further evangelistic zeal, and his 'irregular preaching' disturbed the good Bishop. When circumstances were strong against him Meriton desisted.

Eventually it was by accident that Methodism reached the island. In 1758, John Murlin, called the Weeping Prophet because he was overcome with his own emotion when preaching, left Whitehaven by boat for Liverpool. The sea was rough, and he wrote in his Journal, 'We were carried to the Isle of Man where we stayed for a week. The second evening I preached in a large barn but on Sunday it could not contain all the people who would hear, and I was obliged to preach abroad.... the people behaved well...." Many who heard him wanted more, but it was some years before another Methodist preacher came.

Indeed this second man, John Crook, saw little prospect of doing good when he came over from the Liverpool district in 1775. His Journal, March 1st, 1775, says "not a happy time; they think I turn preacher for what I can get" He said the island was a nest of smugglers but still he had some successes. Coming out of church in Peel he caught the regular congregation and gave them another sermon; and 'many were converted' of the four hundred he says listened to him.

He had some impact on Peel and when his first six months tour ended the Peel folk asked Wesley to return Crook-to them. At the 1776 Conference he was accepted as a Travelling Preacher (minister) and sent to Whitehaven so that he had oversight of the island, and could 'easily' come to the island on month in-three! During 1776 he met with strong opposition. His meetings were broken up and Bishop Richmond sent a pastora1 letter to his clergy warning against 'unqualified and unordained persons who presume to preach and set up conventicles. In 1777 Thomas Rutherford was the circuit preacher, and in his diary he wrote 'I think they would have driven us out but for the Governor, a mild, humane man' even so Rutherford was forbidden to preach in Douglas on pain of imprisonment, but his country preaching seems to have escaped notice.

Membership⁽¹⁾ grew rapidly; in 1775 there were 600 members in 1779, 1,051, and by 1834 they numbered 3,566. In Dr.Coke's Life of John Wesley, he calls John Crook 'The Apostle to the Isle of Man', a well deserved title.

He preached all over the island, but his first success at Peel continued as the first recorded society was in the home of John Gawne, who became a local preacher. It is recorded .that Gawne, together with a man named Morrison, took over the preaching at Douglas, walking barefoot all the way, and washing their feet in the Ballaquayle Stream before preaching in their 'respectable' boots. The first meeting place, after Gawne's kitchen, was in the summer-house at Mount Morrison, presumably Morrison's home.

Crook instituted the Manx Conference, based on Peel, and he personally examined all candidates for the local preachers' plan. Typical items from these early books include:
March 25th 1778 General examination of preachers. Preachers reproved for lack of courtesy to one another.
July 24th 1780. J Rodda and J Crook (ministers) in charge, preachers told to beware even the very appearance of evil; told to be careful not to disappoint any congregation where they were planned.
Jan 1 1781. Preachers and congregation to suggest to ministers subjects for sermons. Preachers' library suggested..
April 2 1782. Preachers should fast quarterly and. set example. Manx Carvals⁽²⁾ not fit for normal worship but may be translated and adapted. Poor attendance at class meetings deplored.
Septr. 1782. When servants and farm hands are hired. they should reserve the right to attend class meetings as well as worship
March 1783. Money lending - if not repaid quickly a local preacher is to be expelled.
July 1785. 'A local preacher failing to attend meetings once shall be pardoned,. the second time reproved, and the third time expelled' The English preachers (the ministers were always referred to thus) to bring collections to Quarter day.
1794 Manks Hymn Book to be prepared and printed, and. profits to go to circuit funds ; if any deficit the circuit to make it up. ( In 1790 John Wesley had suggested. that Geo. Holder, the Douglas minister should discourage the use of the Manx language, but the independent Manx would. not have it, and. Killy of Onchan translated many Wesley and Watts hymns into his native tongue)
The Manx hymn book was published by the Manx Conference in 1799

The 1798 Conference divided the circuit into Peel and Douglas and an equal division of property was arranged.. The Preachers Conference - fore runner of the District Meeting - was still for the whole island., and a close watch was kept on every preacher. They were not to sell spirits or playing cards, and in 1834 Thomas Cowley is censured for marrying a female who is not a member of any religious society.

Wesley paid two visits to the island⁽³⁾. In 1777 he writes of being charmed with its beauty, resembling Newquay in Cornwall. At Castletown he preached. 'in our room' at the rear of the Union Hotel in Arbory Street.

When he preached in Peel the Vicar, The Rev. H Corlett⁽⁴⁾ (Vicar of German 1761-1801) was friendly but told Wesley that the Bishop has forbidden him to allow Wesley to preach in the church and also he was to refuse the Sacrament to any who attended Methodist preaching. So Wesley preached 'in our own room' and also on the beach. ( More details may be had by interested readers from Rosser or from Wesley's Journals).
Wesley's next visit in :June 1781 found him becalmed two days after leaving Whitehaven, but the weather was good when he arrived The Manx Mercury tells of his walks in Hill's Gardens, which then stretched down to the sea, accompanied by the resident preachers.; At 6 a.m. he preached in the market Square, and then rode to Castletown. He noted particularly that the birds sang all day and not just in the morning and evening as in England.

From the Wesleyan Record (1906) we learn :'A family named Fisher, now come from Cumberland (already Methodists) lived at Balladoole Farm, and. Wesley preached there in what is currently called Fisher's Hill. In the company which met there, there was-the great grandmother. of the then (1906)Wm Kneen of Cross-e-Caley, a name and Home still highly respected in Manx Methodism
A Prayer meeting and preaching service was held on Barrule - a white stone is pointed out where Wesley is traditionally reputed to have been standing as he preached. Wesley then went again to Peel; to Barregarrow and to Ballaugh, where the Vicar, Mr. Gelling, was most hospitable.

Wesley had a great opinion of Manx singing and Manx preaching! "I never heard such singing either at Bristol or in London" He said they sang with good Judgement. On 7th June he met Preachers 22 in all. "I never saw such stout well looking preachers together; if their spirit is anawerable to their looks I know not what can stand against them" He had a great crowd at Dalby and.. on Friday he wrote "After visiting the island round I am convinced. we have no circuit such as this in -England, Scotland or Ireland - it is shutup from the world. There is no opposition either from the Governor or the Bishop (Bishop Mason): the people are unpolished and therefore unpolluted."

Towards the end of his visit a woman said to Wesley,"Send us men who can endure privation and hardship" to which he replied "I will send you men, who, if you give them anything to eat will thank. you, and if you give them nothing they will still thank you "

In 1781 these hardy souls arrived. Daniel Jackson and Jonathan Brown Both stayed several years and wrote much about the work and its growth. The next preacher was John Ogilivie; he had poor health but was constantly encouraged by letters from John Wesley telling him (Aug 7th 1785) to be of good cheer. It is amazing how Wesley kept in touch with preachers by letters when other contact was difficult.

In 1787 John Crook returned to the island, and in 1788 one of its remarkable ministers was appointed to Douglas. George Holder contributed a great deal to Manx Methodism. His wife's diary is of great interest. After a stormy journey there was no home for them, and they were literally 'in circuit' eating and sleeping where they could. They stayed. two years on their first assignment and had great success notably at Lonan. There is a letter from John Wesley telling Holder he is to go to England, and they went unwillingly, but in two years they were back. They spent another five years here, and Holder was the second chairman of the District after it was separated from Liverpool in 1805 (Matthew Lumb was the first Chairman)

Chapels were rapidly being erected: Peel was the first (1777), Lonan (1788) .Douglas (1786) and many country societies were meeting in cottages and barns. The next ten years saw an amazing growth. John Mercer came in 1802 and again in 1812-20 when he was Chairman of the District
In 1798 there were two circuits: Douglas with Castletown and Ramsey with Peel, and the last circuit assessment before the division is of interest in preserving the names of the societies.
(the spelling is as then given)