Susanna Wesley - A Radical in the Rectory

SUSANNA WESLEY: A RADICAL IN THE RECTORY
By Marion Field
Highland Books.
219 pages.
ISBN 1 897913 47 8

Marion Field is an ex-schoolteacher who has written this very readable biography, a combination of fact, fiction and diary entries. It is compelling reading and pulls no punches in its description of 17th and 18th-century domestic life.
The book takes an honest look at the characters we might be tempted to glamorise, but is perhaps a bit hard on the male sex! We have an opportunity to see through Susanna's eyes something of the struggle between the established church and the dissenters and what it costs those who stood for their principles. It was fascinating to read something of the circumstances that gave rise to Susanna's 'kitchen sermons' and challenging to see how important literacy was to folk in those days.
Samuel and Susanna's teaching methods and curriculum gave food for thought. Are we too unambitious in what we expect our children to be capable of learning? Imagine learning New Testament Greek at eight years of age, as young Hetty Wesley did?
A thoroughly good read, and one which will provoke captivated readers to delve into this period of church history. Suitable for all ages, from late teens to senior citizens!

Sheila Stephen
Reading

© Evangelicals Now - July 1999
Please consider supporting this ministry by subscribing.

• Request Free Sample

Main Articles

• The Star Wars myth
  The hype surrounding the release of the film Star Wars Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace (reprinted from World Magazine)
• Sorted for Es and wizz
  Tim Thornborough talks to a drug addict who found Christ
• Porn pressure
  The temptation of pornography - particularly on the internet - and the resulting effect on society
• So you want to be a leader?
  An edited speech by Roy Clements at Word Alive 1999 challenging the church to rethink its policy on choosing leaders
• Small churches can work
  Advice for small evangelical churches - Eric Harmer shares his wisdom and experience
• Investments - should Christians care?
  The final part of an interview with Lord Alton on money matters

Other articles

• Dust To Destiny - Romans
• Notting Hill
• New Issues Facing Christians Today
• Mezzamorphis (CD)
• Revival - An extract from a series of sermons preached in the anniversary year of the revival of 1859 - from the book Revival
• Breakfast On The Beach
• Churches Beware!
• Stress Family Robinson 2 - The Birthday Party
• The Tree of Life - Proverbs
• The Servant King - Mark
• The Majestic Son - Hebrews
• Apocalypse Now and Then - Revelation
• The Human Christ - The Search for the Historical Jesus
• The Collected Shorter Writings of J I Packer - Vol 1 - Celebrating the Saving Work of God
• The Collected Shorter Writings of J I Packer - Vol 2 - Serving the People of God
• Who Am I? Discovering Your Identity in Christ
• The Man Behind The Millennium
• Generating Hope - Reaching the Post-Modern Generation
• Susanna Wesley - A Radical in the Rectory