John Bishop

Methodist Worship John Bishop

The first part of this book presents a detailed survey of the worship of the Methodist Church. It examines the eighteenth-century sources, traces the historical development of distinctive Methodist services such as the Covenant, the Watchnight, and the Lovefeast, considers the Methodist doctrine of the Sacraments, and deals with the place of hymns in Methodist worship. The second part of the book deals with the place and function of form and order in a service of public worship as conducted in the Free Churches, and proceeds to consider the various elements that make up such a service--the hymns, prayers, lessons, sermon, and sacraments. A study of this book will serve as reminder of the two-fold tradition of the people called Methodists with regard to form of worship, which has been both liturgical and free, and it will help preachers and congregations to engage in public worship with a deeper understanding.