Today was a big day. As we will be doing every morning, we got up and shared Eucharist, followed by breakfast. Then, we got on the coach (bus) and headed 2 hours north up to Oxford - which, of course, is the home of Oxford University with its 40 colleges.
Upon getting off the coach, we headed to Wesley Memorial Methodist Church where we were fortunate to have a great Wesley scholar, Revd. Martin Wellings, share with us about that first movement of Methodism which happened at Oxford University. We were given insight into the culture of Oxford in the 18th century, a little bit about how John was sociable but Charles really seemed to be the one who got along with everybody and knew how to have a great time, and how the University wanted to start cracking down on the party school mentality that had been going on there for quite a while now. It was about that time that John came back to Oxford University as a teaching fellow at Lincoln College and, together with Charles and friensds from the various colleges like Ingham and Morgan, began meeting in groups in 1729. It was Morgan who began to talk about doing prison ministry and tutoring children 1730 and 1731 respectively, but it was John who seemed to take the ideas and run with them, making them happen.
So often, John Wesley seems to get credit for nearly everything the Methodist movement did, especially early on. That's not fair, though, because many in the group (Charles and it appears Morgan before his untimely passing in 1733, and many others) suggested or came up with the ideas. John seems to have had a great ability, however, to organize and make sure that it could run efficiently. Originator of ideas: no. One who can creatively make things happen: yes.
After eating sack lunches, Paul Chilcote, one of the leaders of this Pilgrimage, took half of us on a walking tour from Wesley Memorial Methodist Church to Christ Church - the college where all of the Wesley brothers studied at. I haven't been here for 8 years - the last time being during my Shakespeare in England course while attending Hanover. Once again I saw the Great Hall with John Wesley's portrait being the first one in the long line of famous and influential Christ Church students (and yes, where Harry Potter ate in the films). Then, once again, I was able to enter into Christ Church Cathedral, which just happens to be the chapel for Christ Church. While there I lit a candle for a friend of mine who died much too young. Progressing through the Cathedral, I came upon with my group the plaque that is laid right in front of the steps to the pulpit with John and Charles Wesleys' names upon it, saying, "Students of Christ Church, Leaders of teh Methodist Revival, Ordained in this Cathedral." I was tempted to ask if I could stand in that same pulpit that John had preached in but decided not to - surely I would be told no. Then John, shortly after I had left I think, actually did ask, telling the chaplain that he had just been ordained. He was able to stand up in the pulpit himself for a few seconds. Yes, I am jealous a bit!
After Christ Church my small group went to Lincoln College where John's teaching fellowship had been. We saw his bust and the little chapel that he would have preached in regularly, along with taking pictures of "the flat Wesleys" who evidently have been traveling the world... kinda' neat.
After that and a quick pop into a fancy stationary and pen store, we headed off to The Eagle and Child for dinner - where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien sat, discussed, ate, drank and wrote their respective master works. The nerd in me was satisfied!
Then it was back on the coach for 2 hours, compline shortly after we returned, and then to write this blog. Tomorrow will be another day on the road and an overnight at a conference center elsewhere. I'm glad I'm on this adventure and am having fun getting to know the other pilgrims on this journey with me!
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