July 24, 2010 · 2:03 PM
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United Methodist Church, 1883, Darien

John Wesley first prayed among the Scots of Darien in January 1737.  By 1842, a church was built and twice survived being set afire during the Civil War. It was destroyed during the hurricane of 1881. The present structure replaced it in 1883.

8 Comments

Filed under --MCINTOSH COUNTY GA--, Darien GA

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8 Responses to United Methodist Church, 1883, Darien

  1. Richard
    August 17, 2010 at 3:25 PM

    Tom, I think you are right. As I understood it, ‘Methodism’ was a derogatory term used by detractors of John Wesley to describe his followers.

    Reply
  2. Richard
    July 27, 2010 at 8:33 AM

    I’m no expert, but I believe the beginnings of John Wesley’s personal conversion from Anglicanism to Methodism date from the famous “Aldersgate Experience” in May 1738 in London, after he left Georgia demoralized from an affair with a woman to whom he is alleged to have proposed marriage, but then changed his mind leading to legal proceedings brought by her or on her bahalf. The first use of “Methodism” to describe the movement we associate with him, which of course is widespread in Georgia (I also was raised in the Methodist Church), was I believe around 1739-40, after he had joined forces with George Whitefield and started preaching in open fields around Bristol, with a huge anti-slavery message as part of his ministry. The article on him on Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley, is as good a source as any. But I’m not surprised that the historical marker confuses his dates – I remember being shocked when I went to his house in London for the first time and finding out that his Georgia experience was before Methodism was even a gleam in his eye, though his dejection with mainstream Anglicanism while in Georgia no doubt fed his spirirtual quest that ended up being the Methodist Church. Best R

    Reply
    • drtrd
      July 31, 2010 at 10:44 AM

      Interesting angle and clarification on this often misunderstood story, Richard! Thanks so much for bringing this to my attention…

      Reply
    • Tom Robinson
      August 15, 2010 at 5:36 PM

      I’m going to study this some, but Wesley, I believe, always considered himself an Anglican, though his followers became known as Methodists; he never thought of himself as anything other than Anglican. Wesley, like many today, feel that the Holy Spirit leads and directs us to be the hands, feet and eyes of Christ – and work through the Church or denomination where we can best use our talents to God’s glory. His Aldersgate experience – where his ‘heart was strangely warmed’ – is also believed to be the point where he became so-passionate about preaching, and living for, Christ, alone.

      Reply
  3. Richard
    July 26, 2010 at 3:23 PM

    Hey Brian, lovely photo. You might want to check, but I believe that John Wesley was still an Anglican in 1737 when he and Charles were in Georgia. I love the pink store in Mystic, btw.

    Reply
    • drtrd
      July 26, 2010 at 4:04 PM

      I’d love to know the correct story on that, Richard. I got my information from the historic marker in front of the church, but those can sometimes be based on local lore…

      Reply
  4. Tom Robinson
    July 24, 2010 at 10:24 PM

    Great history – and faith – lesson, here. Thanks for sharing the picture, and the story behind it, too. Blessings.

    Reply

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