About
Epworth Old Rectory in North Lincolnshire is the birthplace and childhood home of John Wesley (1703–1791), the theologian, evangelist, and founder of Methodism, and his brother Charles Wesley (1707–1788), whose hymns remain among the most beloved in the Christian tradition. The rectory has been preserved and interpreted as a place of Methodist pilgrimage and popular heritage, drawing visitors from across the world who come to understand the remarkable family that produced two of the most influential figures in the history of Protestant Christianity.
John Wesley was born at Epworth on 28 June 1703, the fifteenth of nineteen children of the Reverend Samuel Wesley and his formidable wife Susanna. The original rectory burned to the ground on 9 February 1709 — almost certainly through arson, as the Wesley family had made enemies through Samuel's forceful preaching and political positions — and the five-year-old John was rescued through a first-floor window in the last moments before the roof collapsed. This dramatic rescue made an indelible impression on the young John, who later described himself as 'a brand plucked from the burning' — a phrase from the Book of Zechariah that he interpreted as evidence of a special divine purpose for his life. The conviction that he had been preserved for a reason drove Wesley's extraordinary career of evangelism, in which he is estimated to have ridden over 250,000 miles and preached over 40,000 sermons.
The rebuilt rectory — completed by 1709 and modified in subsequent years — is presented as it would have appeared during the Wesley family's residence, with period furniture, domestic objects, and interpretation telling the story of the household. The museum is owned and managed by the World Methodist Council, reflecting the global reach of the Wesleyan tradition that was born in this unremarkable Lincolnshire market town.
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⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- The guided tour of the house is included in admission and is essential — the guides bring the Wesley family to life with vivid detail and are highly knowledgeable about both the family and the Methodist tradition.
- The Church of St Andrew, a short walk from the rectory, contains the grave of Samuel Wesley (John and Charles's father) in the churchyard. It is free to enter and well worth visiting.
- Allow time in the walled garden after the house tour — it is a peaceful space with good interpretation and gives a sense of the domestic economy of the Georgian rectory.
- Methodist pilgrimage groups from across the world visit Epworth Old Rectory throughout the year — if you encounter a group from the United States, Australia, Korea, or elsewhere, you are seeing Methodism's global reach made real.
- The gift shop has an excellent range of books on John and Charles Wesley, Susanna, and the history of Methodism — a good purchase for those wishing to explore the subject further.
- Charles Wesley's hymns may be familiar even if his name is not — 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' at Christmas and 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling' at weddings are two of the most widely known in the English-speaking world.
- Epworth is a small market town with limited catering options — consider bringing a picnic or planning lunch in Doncaster or Scunthorpe before or after your visit.
- The rectory is not fully wheelchair accessible due to its historic fabric — contact in advance if access needs are a concern.
Highlights
John Wesley's Birthplace and the 1709 Fire
The dramatic rescue of the five-year-old John Wesley from the burning rectory on 9 February 1709 is the defining story of this site. The original rectory caught fire — probably through arson by local people hostile to Samuel Wesley's political views — and burned rapidly. John was the last child to escape, pulled through an upper-storey window by a neighbour standing on another man's shoulders seconds before the roof collapsed.
Wesley later interpreted this experience as evidence of divine purpose, adopting the description 'a brand plucked from the burning' (Zechariah 3:2) as a defining phrase for his sense of calling. Museum displays tell this story with immediacy and historical depth.
The Rebuilt Rectory: A Georgian Household
The house visitors see today was rebuilt after the 1709 fire and completed in the early 1710s. Period furniture, furnishings, and domestic equipment have been carefully selected to represent the household as it would have appeared during the Wesley family's occupation — a prosperous but not wealthy clergyman's household in the Georgian era.
Each room is interpreted with attention to the family's daily life: Susanna Wesley's schoolroom, Samuel Wesley's study, the kitchen and service areas, and the bedrooms where the large Wesley family (Samuel and Susanna had nineteen children, of whom ten survived to adulthood) were raised.
Susanna Wesley: The Mother of Methodism
Susanna Wesley (1669–1742), wife of Samuel and mother of John and Charles, has been called 'the Mother of Methodism' for her profound influence on her children's spiritual formation and educational philosophy. A deeply learned woman in an era when female education was limited, she educated all her children herself in the rectory — spending one hour a week with each child individually for religious instruction.
John Wesley later credited her as the most important formative influence on his thought and practice.
Museum displays give Susanna the central role she deserves in the Epworth story.
Charles Wesley: The Hymn Writer
Charles Wesley (1707–1788), born in this house four years after John, became one of the most prolific hymn writers in the history of Christianity — composing over six thousand hymns in the course of his long life. Among his most celebrated works are 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing', 'And Can It Be', 'O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing', 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling', and 'Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.
' While John is remembered as the organisational genius of Methodism, Charles provided the movement with its musical identity. Museum displays celebrate Charles alongside his more famous brother.
Collections
The Epworth Old Rectory holds collections relating to the Wesley family, the history of Methodism, and the social history of Epworth and the Isle of Axholme. Wesley family portraits, documents, letters, and personal effects are central to the collection, along with theological and devotional publications from the eighteenth century.
The furniture and domestic equipment used to interpret the house represents the best evidence for the appearance of a prosperous Georgian clergyman's household.
The Methodist historical archive includes records, correspondence, and printed material relating to the development of the movement from Wesley's lifetime to the present day.
The Fire of 1709: A Brand Plucked from the Burning
The fire, the rescue of young John, and its meaning for Wesley's later life.
Susanna Wesley: Schoolroom and Spirit
Susanna's educational programme, theological influence, and role in shaping Methodism.
Charles Wesley and the Methodist Hymns
Charles Wesley's six thousand hymns and their place in Christian worship.
John Wesley: From Lincolnshire to the World
Wesley's Aldersgate experience, his field preaching, and the spread of Methodism.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.