Francis Asbury

Francis Asbury was a prominent British-American Methodist minister. He became one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. Asbury is often celebrated alongside John and Charles Wesley as a founder of the Methodist Church in the USA. His life was defined by constant movement and religious service. He spent 45 years serving the American colonies and the newly independent United States. Through his travels, he helped spread Methodism during a period known as the Second Great Awakening.

Asbury was born in Staffordshire, England, on August 20 or 21, 1745. His parents were Elizabeth and Joseph Asbury. After his family moved to Great Barr, his older sister Sarah died. This loss caused his mother, Eliza, deep distress for many years. However, Eliza later found a renewed Christian faith through itinerant preachers. She began reading the Bible daily and encouraged Francis to do the same. As a child, Francis felt a connection to God as early as age seven. He attended a local school in Snail's Green but left because he did not like his teacher or his peers.

During his youth, the West Midlands underwent massive changes due to the Industrial Revolution. Factories and mines grew, drawing many workers to the area. The Asbury family lived in a cottage near a main route between these sites. Asbury worked his first formal job at age thirteen for local gentry. He later worked at Old Forge Farm making metal goods. He became close friends with Henry Foxall, who eventually emigrated to Colonial America. Asbury also began preaching locally before becoming an itinerant preacher. An itinerant preacher is a minister who travels from place to place rather than staying in one church.

In 1771, Asbury volunteered to travel to British North America. His first sermon in the colonies took place in Woodrow, Staten Island. Within his first 17 days, he preached in Philadelphia and New York City. When the American Revolutionary War began in 1775, Asbury remained in America. He chose to stay neutral during the conflict. He did not endorse Great Britain or the new United States government. This decision was difficult for his followers. In Maryland, citizens were required to take an Oath of Allegiance to the new Congress. Those who refused could be imprisoned for treason. To avoid this, Asbury fled to Delaware.

Asbury's leadership helped shape the structure of the Methodist Church. In 1784, John Wesley named Asbury and Thomas Coke as co-superintendents. That same year, the Christmas Conference established the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States. During this conference, Asbury was ordained as a bishop. He led the American Methodists for the next 32 years. Some leaders, such as William McKendree and James O'Kelly, initially opposed his ideas for a ruling council. To build broader support, Asbury established a General Conference in 1792. This allowed delegates to represent different groups within the church.

Asbury was a tireless traveler who reached people wherever they gathered. He preached in fields, public squares, tobacco houses, and even courthouses. He rode an average of 6,000 miles every year. Under his direction, the church grew from 1,200 members to 214,000 members. He also helped oversee the growth of 700 ordained preachers. Asbury taught that slavery was a crime against God, man, and nature. He met Henry "Black Harry" Hosier, a freedman who became his driver and guide. Hosier eventually became a famous preacher who spoke to white congregations.

His influence also extended to the development of Black Methodist denominations. Asbury's ministry made African Americans a target for missionary work. By 1800, nearly 20,000 African Americans were Methodists. This made up about one third of the total Methodist population in America. Asbury ordained Richard Allen, who became the first Black Methodist minister in the United States. Allen later founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Another man he ordained was Daniel Coker, who emigrated to Sierra Leone. Asbury's personal journal remains a vital resource for historians. It provides a detailed account of frontier society and many American towns.