Welcome to the MWRC

The Manchester Wesley Research Centre promotes and supports research on the life and work of John and Charles Wesley, their contemporaries in the 18th century Evangelical Revival, their historical and theological antecedents, their successors in the Wesleyan tradition, and contemporary scholarship in the Wesleyan and Evangelical tradition. This includes areas such as theology, history, biblical studies, education, ethics, literature, mission, philosophy, pastoral studies, practical theology, and social theology.

The MWRC is located on the campus of Nazarene Theological College in the Manchester suburb of Didsbury and is affiliated with the Methodist Archives, housed in The University of Manchester John Rylands Library. These research centres provide magnificent resources for students and researchers in this field.

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If you are interested in further information about the Wesley Centre and its programmes, or would like to be placed on the mailing list for information about forthcoming events, please contact the Director at the following address:

Manchester Wesley Research Centre
Dene Road
Didsbury, Manchester
England M20 2GU

MWRC Director
Geordan Hammond, Ph.D.
Email: ghammond@nazarene.ac.uk

Postgraduate Assistant
Chris Foster
Email: cfoster@nazarene.ac.uk 

 

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David Stark, M.A., M.Div., M.A., Ph.D, '"The Peculiar Doctrine Committed to Our Trust": Ideal and Identity in the First Wesleyan Holiness Revival, 1758-1763'

After completing graduate courses (with honours) in 2007 at Gonzaga University (M.A., organizational leadership and administration) and Nazarene Theological Seminary (M.Div. and M.A., theological studies), David began the doctoral programme at UM/NTC with Dr Herbert McGonigle. In 2009 Dr Geordan Hammond assumed supervision of David's study. His thesis was completed and approved in 2011. Dr Henry Rack, Emeritus Bishop Fraser Senior Lecturer in Ecclesiastical History in The University of Manchester and celebrated author of Reasonable Enthusiast: John Wesley and the Rise of Methodism, has described David’s thesis as providing ‘a distinctly new view . . . and fresh picture of the development of early Methodism’ by demonstrating ‘with excellent critical judgment, that Wesley’s views on perfection changed over the years and that the events of the period 1758 to 1763 did indeed, as claimed, decisively shape Methodist identity. . . . In addition, it is shown that teachings commonly ascribed to 19th century developments already occur in Wesley’s writings.’ For an extended version of David's abstract, click here

Email: davidtstark@yahoo.com