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"Did SUMC have its beginning at the Great Revival"
POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE SHARON METHODIST CONGREGATION IN 1808
The Cane Ridge revival of August 6-11, 1801 has been called the Great Revival, the beginning of the Second Great Awakening, and the American Pentecost.
Coming from the Cane Ridge community and the Great Revival was Richard McNemar, who in 1802 started the new Presbyterian congregation of Turtle Creek just outside of Lebanon, Ohio. John Thompson, who studied under Cane Ridge Pastor Robert Finley and was also a participant in the Great Revival, pastored the Presbyterian congregation in Springfield Township, Ohio (now Springdale). In large part due to these congregations, it has been stated that “…this area of southwestern Ohio became, in a sense, a colony of Cane Ridge, an outpost of the distinctive religious culture that had developed in that congregation.” See Cane Ridge, America’s Pentecost (1990) by Paul K. Conkin, History Professor, Vanderbilt University, p. 125.
In 1805 John Thompson, while pastor of the Springfield Presbyterian congregation, left the denomination. Although he did come back to the Presbyterian denomination, this did not occur until 1811. During this period of religious turmoil for the Springfield congregation, it is certainly possible some members left in 1808 and formed a Methodist congregation next door in what was then called Sharon (now Sharonville).
Recorded observations at the Cane Ridge Great Revival say there were at least 13 Presbyterian pastors present and the 4 Methodist pastors present preached. See Cane Ridge, America’s Pentecost, p. 91. “The revivals divided Presbyterians but not Methodists and Baptists…. Methodists tried to support a warm spirituality at all times. Their class meetings and love feasts, testimonials, hymn singing, and lay evangelism had many of the qualities of the Presbyterian communion. Since a revival style was normal, Methodists could join Presbyterian communions with alacrity, yet maintain greater order in their own, usually smaller conferences. In other words, both Baptists and Methodists easily adapted to the new revival style and made it an integral part of their religion. Methodists cried and shouted with joy in services throughout the year.” See Cane Ridge, America’s Pentecost, p. 119. While Presbyterian membership in Kentucky is said to have increased only from 2000 in 1800 to 2600 in 1820, Methodist membership went from less than 2000 in 1800 to 21,000 in 1820. See Cane Ridge, America’s Pentecost, pgs. 118 & 119.
How do you think the Sharon Methodist congregation came into being in 1808?
Proposed by Mitch Lippert