Primitive Methodist Church in the U.S.A.

Primitive Methodist Church in the U.S.A.

Pres., Rev. Frank Hrabak
1122 Frosty Hollow Rd.
Langhorne, PA 19047-5719
United States

Attesting Officer
Rev. David S. Allen
Gen. Secretary


Media Contact
Pres., Rev. Frank Hrabak

40.1449207, -74.890522


Hugh Bourne and William Clowes, local preachers in the Wesleyan Church in England, organized a daylong meeting at Mow Cop in Staffordshire on May 31, 1807, after Lorenzo Dow, an evangelist from America, told them of American camp meetings. Thousands attended and many were converted but the Methodist church, founded by the open-air preacher John Wesley, refused to accept the converts and reprimanded the preachers.
After waiting for two years for a favorable action by the Wesleyan Society, Bourne and Clowes established The Society of the Primitive Methodists. This was not a schism, Bourne said, for "we did not take one from them ... it now appeared to be the will of God that we ... should form classes and take upon us the care of churches in the fear of God." Primitive Methodist missionaries were sent to New York in 1829. An American conference was established in 1840.
Missionary efforts reach into Guatemala, Spain and other countries. The denomination joins in federation with the Evangelical Congregational Church, the United Brethren in Christ Church and the Southern Methodist Church and is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals.
The church believes the Bible is the only true rule of faith and practice, the inspired Word of God. It believes in one Triune God, the Deity of Jesus Christ, the Deity and personality of the Holy Spirit, the innocence of Adam and Eve, the Fall of the human race, the necessity of repentance, justification by faith of all who believe, regeneration witnessed by the Holy Spirit, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the dead and conscious future existence of all people and future judgments with eternal rewards and punishments.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
1965
0
11,946
86
1961
12,805
90
1960
12,360
91
1959
14,613
90
1958
12,844
92
1957
12,571
80
1956
12,662
92
1955
12,166
92
1954
12,061
92
1953
12,217
90
1952
12,320
90
1951
12,295
91
1950
326
12,000
87
1946
11,995
89
1942
12,185
0
12,185
88
1940
12,027
103
12,130
85
1938
10,800
1,251
12,051
83
1936
10,776
1,305
12,081
81
1929
12,399
12,399
90
1925
11,905
11,905
87
1923
10,494
10,494
87
1922
9,986
9,986
86
1921
10,986
10,986
84
1919
9,190
9,190
86
1917
9,353
9,353
93
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
1965
71
60
1961
79
90
1960
76
65
1959
75
90
1958
75
73
1957
70
90
1956
74
70
1955
74
70
1954
74
75
1953
66
63
1952
65
57
1951
72
69
1950
65
14
79
1946
77
1942
77
1940
77
1938
77
1936
77
1929
85
1925
80
1923
80
1922
85
1921
79
1919
69
1917
74
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
1959
90
1,387
9,274
10,661
1958
92
1,387
9,368
10,755
1957
90
1,414
9,456
10,870
1956
92
1,355
9,886
11,241
1955
76
1,355
9,585
10,940
1954
94
1,362
9,119
10,481
1953
90
1,406
10,000
11,406
1952
90
1,346
9,698
11,044
1951
73
1,559
7,841
9,400
1950
84
1,362
9,538
10,900
1923
88
15,904
1922
87
16,807
1921
84
16,305
1919
88
14,893
1917
93
1,557
14,918
1916
92
1,553
15,023
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
1917
$147,695