The history of Wesley United Methodist Church traces her
roots back to England and the Anglican (Church of England) Church. John
Wesley, for whom our church is named, was a priest in the Anglican Church.
Wesley came from a family, which was very active in the Church and had
produced many clergy. His brother, Charles Wesley, was also a priest in the
Anglican Church and wrote over 6000 hymns
Methodism began as a spiritual movement within the Anglican Church aimed at renewal and a deep sense of personal faith. Small groups known as "class meetings" met for prayer and devotions. Bible study was an important part of their group worship. Wesley also preached outside the church to the common folks who had stopped attending worship and were removed from the life of the church. Wesley had long felt something was lacking in his own spiritual life and began to seek God's help in finding a deeper faith. On May 24, 1738, the Holy Spirit deeply moved within Wesley's heart. Wesley found the renewal he had sought and wrote in his journal, "I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."
With renewed vigor, Wesley continued his preaching. Class meetings began to spring up all over England. This displeased some Anglican leaders and Wesley was barred from preaching in some churches. Still he continued on. People began to comment on how "methodical" Wesley and his followers were and gave them the name of "Methodists".
As Wesley's converts moved to the American Continent, Wesley's passion and "method" came with them. Soon Methodists were all over America as well. "Circuit Riders" traveled by horseback to preach the Gospel. Francis Asbury became the first American Bishop and in 1784 Methodism became a separate church in America. The Methodist Episcopal Church (as it was called) grew rapidly. In 1968, the Methodist Episcopal Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren to form the United Methodist Church with over nine million members!
A Mr. Eddy was responsible for the first Methodist services held in Ishpeming in 1867. In 1869 the first church building was built on Division St. in Ishpeming. This building served until a new church was erected in 1902. In 1955, the Swedish Methodist Church merged with First Methodist and the name was changed to Wesley Methodist Church and ground was broken for a new building in 1965 with the present structure completed in 1966.
Most recently, a Memorial Garden has been consecrated on our property as a permanent resting-place for the cremated remains of members and friends of Wesley Church and as a place for prayer and devotion. We believe this provides a visible link that demonstrates the important place Wesley Church as held in the lives of many members.