Table Of ContentCIRCUIT RIDERS
ATHESIS-PROJECT
SUBMITTEDTOTHE FACULTY OF
GORON-CONWELLTHEOLOGICALSEMINARY
IN PARTIALFULFILLMENT OFTHE REQUIREMENTS FORTHE DEGREE
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
BY
PAULA DELLCAMPBELL
MAY 2015
Copyright © 2015 by Paula Dell Campbell. All Rights Reserved.
Iwantto dedicatethisthesis-project and my lovefor Circuit Ridersto all the
people who brought meto this point ofwritingthis thesis.
• Rev. Richard Humphreywhose loveforthese earlyMethodist preacherswas
contagious.
• The congregations ofStaffordsville Circuit United MethodistChurch and
Eggleston Circuit United Methodist Church. These arethe people who
introduced meto Robert Sheffeythe Circuit Rider responsible for manyofthe
United Methodist Churches in Giles County, Virginia. As apastor in the area I
was expected and welcomed as amemberofthe Board forthe yearlyCamp
Meetings.
• Mypastorfriends that shared their appreciation fortheirfavorite Circuit Riders
when they heard Iwas writingaboutthem.
• Iam thankful and blessed to have myfamily and friends supportas Iwent
through the process.
• Dr. Garth Rosell and Dr. Robert Mayerwho madethistract enjoyable and put up
with all ofourpersonality differences. Theytreated all ofus as ifwe were the
most important student in the class.
CONTENT
ABSTRACT v
INTRODUCTION 1
Chapter
1. FRANCISASBURY 4
2. CAMP MEETINGS: A MAJOR WORSHIP EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA 35
3. MORE CIRCUIT RIDER STORIES 38
4. CIRCUIT RIDERS WESTOFTHE MISSISSIPPI 78
5. YESTERDAY AND TODAY 87
BIBLIOGRAPHY 112
VITA 114
iv
ABSTRACT
From the beginningoftime there was onlyone wayfor people to learn about
God. God hadto have his people goto others and share His story. Thejourneywas not
easy. Manywanted to stopthem and keep God's message from beingshared. In other
instancesthe travel was difficultand rough. No matterwhat the circumstances ofthe
travelingorcircuit ministry, those called continue in whatthey are doing. As theywork
in thistype ofministrythey knowthey are where God wants them and they are doing
what God wantsthem to do.
v
INTRODUCTION
Circuit Riding
The versesofthefollowing songaresung to the tune ofBattle Hymn ofthe Republic
The Choruses aresung to theirown tunes.
The Circuit Riden Preacheryoust to ride acrossthe land
With arifle on his saddle and aBible in his hand
He told the prairie people all aboutthe Promised Land
As hewent riding, singing down the trail.
Chorus
Leaning, leaning, safe and securefrom all alarms,
Leaning, leaning, leaningon the everlasting arms.
The Circuit Ridin Preachertraveled through the mire and mud
Told aboutthe fireyfurnace and ofNoah and theflood
Preachedthe wayto Heaven was bywater and the blood
As hewent riding, singing downthe trail.
Chorus
There is power, power, wonderworking power
In the blood ofthe Lamb;
There is power, power, wonder working power
In the precious blood ofthe Lamb.1
Ionly recently heardthis song and knewfrom reading about Circuit Riding
Preachers howtrue these words are. Circuit Riding Preachers are people given agreat
calling byGod to spread the Word ofGod to people livingin remote areaswhere there
is not alocal preacher. Theyspent manyhourstravelingfrom placeto placeto dowhat
they knewtheywere called to do. Theystudied God's Word, they preached, they
1Songshared byFrankBrownand MargaretWilsonofStaffordsvilleCircuitoftheUnited Methodist
Church.
1
shared God's love and did whatevertheycould to spread the Good News ofGod's love
and grace. Some also had special giftsthatgotthe attention ofthose aroundthem.
These special giftswere also used to help people seethe great powerofGod.
Myfirst introduction to Circuit riders came when Iwas achurch secretary
workingwith Rev. Richard Humphrey. Rich loved Church Historyand the waythe early
pastors shared theirtheological thoughts through sermons, poems, songs, and other
ways of ministry. As he studied the early pastorsofthe Appalachian Mountains in
2
Southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina, and Tennessee he saw something
special in the writings ofJohn Adam Granade. Ihelped dothe research forthis book by
goingto the libraryin Harrisburg, Pennsylvania when Iwent north to visit family in
western Pennsylvania. Imade some copies ofJohn's hymnsthat were stored on
microfichethere. "The Reverend ThomasS. Hinde, an itinerating PreacherofKentucky,
included thirty-fourofGranade'shymnsin his hymnal, The Pilgrim'sSongsterof1815,,,3
Granade'sspecial giftwas his abilityto put histheology in song and poem.
Afterthis initial introduction to an early Circuit Rider, Ihad the honorofbeing
exposed to more and more information aboutthese greatmen. My next exposure
came when Iwas in seminaryand had the opportunityto learn aboutJohn and Charles
Wesley, FrancisAsbury, and others. Ineeded to write apaperforone ofmy United
Methodistclasses. Ichose Circuit riders because Ihad fallen in love with them as I read
abouttheir devotionto the callingGod put on their lives andthe desireto bring as many
2ThisistheareaofTheHolston ConferenceoftheUnited MethodistChurch.
3RichardA. Humphrey,introductionandCompilation,HistoryandHymnsofJohnAdamGranade,
Holston'sPilgrim-Preacher-Poet(Emory, VA: Emoryand HenryCollege, 1991),3.
2
people as theycould to the verysame love ofGod thattheythemselves had. They
seemed to thinkthatthe obstaclesthey encountered were partofthejob. They looked
atthe blessings of beingsaved from harm and the grace ofGod givingsalvation tothose
that accepted thatgift. Theytalked about all ofthis as part oftheirwork but nothing
more. They knewtheywere instruments ofGod usingthe gifts He had given them.
3
CHAPTER ONE
FRANCISASBURY
We cannotgo intothe topic ofCircuit Riders without beginningourstorywith
one ofthe most recognized men associated with this topic. His name is FrancisAsbury.
He is perhapsthe best known Circuit riders in American History. Many admire him but
fewwould have wanted to live alife like his. It was not an easy life but alife lived for
the Lord. He was not raised by believingparents so did not start out believing in God.
FrancisAsbury's EarlyYears in England
His parents were uneducated people who worked hard but never had much.
Mostofthe time the family lived in acottage owned by hisfather's bossorthe company
hisfather worked for. His own education was limited. He quit school at an earlyageto
go to work. The life ofalaborerwas the type oflife hewas with. Asbury started
working for awealthy but ungodlyfamily in the parish. This lasted for ashorttime
before he leftto learn atrade. This was something elsethat was familiarto him. Being
aservant and apprentice atthe age ofthirteen orfourteen was acommon practice at
thattime.
Here he was, ayoung man being raised asthe son ofacommon laborer and
working as an apprenticefor ametalworker. He was familiar with the lives ofworking
4
class people. He had acommon school education, butit and his knowledge ofthe
workingclass served him well when he started in ministry.l
His religious experience came overyears. Afterthe death ofhis sister, his
motherbecame depressed. That brought herto the point ofseekingspiritual help for
healing and dealingwith hergrief. Asburywas aboutthirteen yearsold when atraveling
shoemakercame to theirarea. Hewas aBaptist and spoke wordsthattouched Asbury's
soul. He knewthere was somethingmoreto religion and started adiscipline ofprayer
morningand evening. Atthe sametime he started readingthe Anglican sermonswas
influenced by Methodism. He also read othergood sermons includingsome written by
George Whitefield. These messageswere so influential to hisspiritual lifethat he
realized he was readyto step out in faith knowingthat this could bring persecution into
his life. Many Methodistswere treated badlywith vandalism and beatings.
Asbury's mother realized Franciswas interested in spiritual growth and directed
him to attendinga Methodist Meeting. The preachers atthat meetingwereJohn
2
Fletcherand Benjamin Ingram, both members ofthe Oxford Methodists. He did not
fully understand all that was beingpreached butthe effectithad on the peoplewas
impressive. Hewas not impressed with the sermons but realized the preacherswere
not readingtheir prayersfrom aprayer bookor readingtheir sermonsfrom asermon
book. The people were devout and enthusiasticabouttheirfaith. This was not a
familiartype ofchurch, itwas better.
1JohnWigger.AmericanSaint:AsburyandThe Methodists, (Oxford, UK:Oxford University,2009), Kindle.
2ThegroupwasstartedbyCharlesandJohnWesleyandtheirfriendswhentheywereatOxford.
5
