Founders of Founders of John Street John Street Church Church 1766-1768 1766-1768 Barbara Heck, Philip Embury, Barbara Heck, Philip Embury, and Captain Thomas Webb and Captain Thomas Webb everal heartbreaking years in New York City left an Irish everal heartbreaking years in New York City left an Irish immigrant named Barbara Heck frustrated and concerned immigrant named Barbara Heck frustrated and concerned Sabout the path she and her friends were travelling. These Sabout the path she and her friends were travelling. These concerns boiled over when Barbara (1734-1804) discovered concerns boiled over when Barbara (1734-1804) discovered a group of her friends gambling. After throwing the playing a group of her friends gambling. After throwing the playing cards into the fireplace, Barbara rushed to her cousin Philip cards into the fireplace, Barbara rushed to her cousin Philip Embury’s house and urged him to begin an unprecedented Embury’s house and urged him to begin an unprecedented ministry. ministry. Before coming to New York, Philip (1728-1773) was a Method- Before coming to New York, Philip (1728-1773) was a Method- ist preacher in Ireland. At Barbara’s insistence, Philip picked up ist preacher in Ireland. At Barbara’s insistence, Philip picked up his old trade and, on October 12, 1766, preached in his home his old trade and, on October 12, 1766, preached in his home to a small group she assembled there. Church historians trace to a small group she assembled there. Church historians trace the beginning of John Street Church in New York City and the the beginning of John Street Church in New York City and the oldest Methodist church in the United States to this event. oldest Methodist church in the United States to this event. Captain Thomas Webb (1724-1796) offered his services to Captain Thomas Webb (1724-1796) offered his services to Bar- Barbara and Philip’s group in February 1767. bara and Philip’s group in February 1767. (over) (over) (Heck, Embury, and Webb, cont.) (Heck, Embury, and Webb, cont.) A British army officer, an associate of John Wesley, and a Meth- A British army officer, an associate of John Wesley, and a Meth- odist preacher, Webb quickly assumed a leadership role in the odist preacher, Webb quickly assumed a leadership role in the growing congregation. His passionate service and financial gen- growing congregation. His passionate service and financial gen- erosity ultimately allowed the group to build their own chapel on erosity ultimately allowed the group to build their own chapel on John Street in 1768. John Street in 1768. For Discussion For Discussion • Neither Heck nor Embury nor Webb could have established • Neither Heck nor Embury nor Webb could have established John Street Church alone. How do those with different gifts John Street Church alone. How do those with different gifts and talents work together in your church? and talents work together in your church? • Barbara Heck fought against activities that were taking her • Barbara Heck fought against activities that were taking her friends away from the church. What conditions or activities friends away from the church. What conditions or activities work against participation in church today? What might you work against participation in church today? What might you do to change this? do to change this? • New York City had several established churches when Em- • New York City had several established churches when Em- bury began preaching. What was different about what the bury began preaching. What was different about what the Methodists taught? Do those beliefs differ from what is being Methodists taught? Do those beliefs differ from what is being taught today? taught today? New York Annual Conference New York Annual Conference Commission on Archives and History Commission on Archives and History C. Wesley Christman Archives C. Wesley Christman Archives [email protected] - 914-615-2241 [email protected] - 914-615-2241 © 2016 NYAC Commission on Archives and History © 2016 NYAC Commission on Archives and History.