THE WOMEN AROUND JOHN WESLEY AT HOME ... - Kristoffersen

Fleming, Bishop of Lincoln. John Wesley got his educationat still a younger College, Christ Church College, that wasfounded 1525 by Cardinal Wolsey, who wanted that hisCollege should be the biggest and finest in Europe. This isalso the only College in Oxford with its own Cathedral.Samuel Wesley showed great courage when hestarted out as a service student, pauper scholaris, in one ofthe Oxford Colleges. This position meant that he had toserve at the tables, and serve his fellow students so that hecould finance his studies at Oxford. He showed himself as aman of courage both at Oxford and in the Congregationsafter completed studies.FROM SOUTH ORMSBY TO EPWORTHSamuel Wesley left his service at South Ormsbyeven if a nobleman had helped to get the position at SouthOrmsby, and he accepted the living as a vicar at Epworth.He was not in awe of the persons who stood above him inpower and authority, and it was the same the same withpeople around him. He told the Congregation in Epworththat they were godless, uneducated and had no knowledge.Some historians are of the opinion that this was the reasonwhy the members of the Congregation set fire to theparsonage at Epworth. Other researchers argue that thereason for the fire was that Samuel Wesley had forgotten toblow out a burning candle. Whatever the reason for the firewas it shows that Samuel Wesley was a man withprinciples and great will power as he could tell theCongregation off.16