Methodism: Empire of the Spirit

David Hempton's Methodism: Empire of the Spirit is a lively, big-picture history of the rise and decline of Methodism. I didn't think it was a history of the Methodist church, but rather the movement itself. The book really does not talk much to what attracted people to the basics of Wesley's philosophy but it does offer solid insight into how the movement spread across the globe. The book might have been better served had it devoted some time to explaining Wesley's early efforts in Bristol and other industrialized cities. It might also have spent time explaining the sense of community with the lower class people it so attracted. Also missing is what attracted people in America to the faith. Was it the message? Was it the organization? There had to be something that gave meteoric rise to the faith. But enough of what the book didn't contain. It tells the story of many important people who gave the faith its meaning and brought multitudes to the meetings. The appeal to women, blacks, the dispossessed, all owes a debt to people like Francis Asbury, William Taylor, or the unsung itinerant preachers on horseback. The faith traveled with soldiers of the British Empire to India, Austalia, Africa, and made inroads in Korea and to a degree in Latin America. All of this was possible through religious zeal. Other works have explored the growth of Methodism among American slaves (Eugene Genovesee's Roll, Jordan, Roll is a strong example), but Mr. Hempton takes the argument full circle. Not only does he describe the growth, but also the decline. A web page cites Methodism as having 14 million members in the United States, so decline does not necessarily mean extinction. The book is paced well enough that it should hold the readers attention. It tends to drag at times, but it is not overly long in the first place. It has some good statistics in the Appendix for any who enjoy such data. Methodist scholars and pastors will find many interesting tidbits in this book for sermons or other educational discussions.

This is a fine and fascinating book about a movement that changed the world. I rarely enjoy church history, but this is a well-written study, filled with anecdotes. It is a sociological and historical account; not reductionist, but not delving into spiritual maatters so much as how doctrine and practice led to the spread of the church. I am surprised at how much I like this book: anyone interested in Methodism or early American religion will find this book to be both fun and informatiave.