Summary

Australia Victoria
Jubilee of the Wesleyan Church 1886 (AD)
Mint: not recorded; type but not size listed by Carlisle
Other Details: In 1886 the Wesleyan Methodist Church celebrated the fiftieth jubliee of the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist Association in Britain. The Association was one of several off-shoots of the Methodist Church, which had been established by John Wesley from the 1730s. Methodism stressed evangelism and a closer association with God. The focus on fiftieth anniversaries by the church originated in Leviticus 25:10: 'And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you...'. In 1902 the various off-shoots of Methodism in Australia united to form the Methodist Church of Australasia. In 1977 the church became part of the Uniting Church. The Wesleyan Methodist Church which exists in Australia today is actually a branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America, introduced to Australia during World War II. In 2003 it had almost 100 churches in Australia.
Previous Collections: George McArthur

Obverse Description

Bust of John Wesley 3/4 left

Reverse Description

legend within trefoil; JUBILEE / OF THE / WESLEYAN / METHODIST / CHURCH / IN / VICTORIA / 1886 small floral deorations at each point of trefoil

Significance

In 1886 the Wesleyan Methodist Church celebrated the fiftieth jubliee of the establishment of the Wesleyan Methodist Association in Britain. The Association was one of several off-shoots of the Methodist Church, which had been established by John Wesley from the 1730s. Methodism stressed evangelism and a closer association with God. The focus on fiftieth anniversaries by the church originated in Leviticus 25:10: 'And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee unto you...'. In 1902 the various off-shoots of Methodism in Australia united to form the Methodist Church of Australasia. In 1977 the church became part of the Uniting Church. The Wesleyan Methodist Church which exists in Australia today is actually a branch of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of America, introduced to Australia during World War II. In 2003 it had almost 100 churches in Australia. -Wesleyan Methodist Church, Australia, web site http://www.wesleyan.org.au/about/history.html; John Owen Smith web site http://www.johnowensmith.co.uk/histdate/methdist.htm; Hardgrave, D., c.1988. For Such a Time: a History of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of Australia. -D. Tout-Smith 1/12/2003.

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