Primitive Methodism

Protestant Christian movement, an offshoot of Wesleyan Methodism, that emerged in England in 1811 when evangelical enthusiasts organized camp meetings at places such as Mow Cop in 1807. Inspired by American example, open-air sermons were accompanied by prayers and hymn singing. In 1932 the Primitive Methodists became a constituent of a unified Methodist church.

Hugh Bourne (1772–1852) and William Clowes, who were both expelled from the Wesleyan Methodist circuit for participating in camp meetings, formed a missionary campaign that led to the development of Primitive Methodist circuits in central, eastern, and northern England. They gained a strong following in working-class mining and agricultural communities, and concentrated on villages and towns rather than large urban centres. Primitive Methodism as a separate sect was exported to the USA in 1829 and then to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Nigeria.