The Spirit Burned Brightly: Southern Methodism in the Early 19th Century

Methodism arrived in the colonies in the early 1700s and thrived during the First and Second Great Awakenings. After the American Revolution, Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury were sent to the newly formed country to formally found the Methodist Episcopal Church. The first Methodist bishop born in America was William McKendree. He traveled with Asbury, preaching the doctrine of Methodism throughout the mid-Atlantic states, honing his skills, and developing a reputation amongst the leadership for his administrative abilities. In 1801, McKendree was sent to oversee parts of Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and western Virginia and Illinois, becoming an esteemed figure and church elder. By 1808, he was elected to the office of bishop, sealing his legacy as an inspiring leader of the early Methodist church. The William McKendree Papers document his thoughts on being a circuit preacher, his health issues, and his role in the spread of Methodism in the South as well as reflect the denomination's struggles over the ownership of slaves, especially by preachers.