letter

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 133 DDPr 1/87
  • Former Reference
      GB 135 DDPr 1/87
      GB 133 Leather Vol.VI - Letters Chiefly Addressed to the Rev. C Wesley, p.87
  • Dates of Creation
      19 Sep 1739
  • Physical Description
      1 item

Scope and Content

From Joseph Williams in Kidderminster to Mr Greville the grocer's house in Wine Street, Bristol. It is now about four years since Williams had a delightful conversation with a young gentleman in London, concerning the disgraceful decline of 'vital' religion in England. It was commented on at the time that even ministers of the Church seemed to be opposed to gospel doctrine, and that many young people in particular were disregarding of man's state of sin. Williams was therefore surprised to hear the same young man also say that a revival had already begun, initiated by some of the clergy of the Church of England. Williams was under the impression that these ministers were 'Arminians to a man' and did not therefore expect a revival from that source. The young man however assured him that such was the case, and that it was not dissenting ministers who were sponsoring such a movement. Since that conversation, the Wesleys and Whitefields of the age, have persuaded Williams that God is indeed at work.

Williams has long wished that the Wesleys or one of their helpers 'whom the world in derision calls Methodists' will see fit to visit Kidderminster. He would have written to [George] Whitefield several months ago, had he known where to send his letter to. Also secular business keeps him very busy. It was at Williams's request that his friend Mr Bingham of Gloucester asked Charles during his visit to that city, to call at Kidderminster when next in the area after Charles's return from Bristol. Bingham's letter of the 28th ult. indicated that Charles might be leaving Bristol in eight or ten weeks. Charles's presence and assistance is also desired in Bromsgrove.

Williams is about to leave on a long journey and will not be home before the middle of October, but he would be grateful for a line then.

[The revival of approximately 1735 which Williams is referring to the first part of the above letter, may be a reference to the Holy Club, the activities of which were described in a pamphlet published in London that year. It also perhaps refers to the work in Wales, initiated by Howell Harris and the clergyman Daniel Rowlands. Source: General Methodist historical]

[Charles Wesley refers in his journal for October 8 1739 to Joseph Williams of Kidderminster, attending a meeting of the Bristol Society.]