Dear Sir,
I should like to thank Dr Robert Oliver for his kind review of my recent book The Great River: Primitive Methodism till 1868 (en, July). He notes that the book opens three theological areas: female preachers; Arminianism; perfectionism. He asks whether and how the Primitive Methodists discussed and justified their use of female preachers, as such debate is not recorded in the book. Yes, they did write and speak in defence of it, both among themselves and with those who denied its legitimacy. The book arose from an M. Phil thesis with the University of Chester which attends to such discussions and which I would be glad to send by email attachment to any reader interested in the matter. Dr Oliver wonders whether I share the Prims’ Arminian theology. It was not my purpose in the book (nor is it now) to enter into theological debate, but to tell the story of that revival movement in my native area, and it seemed appropriate to exclude personal comment on the extent of the Atonement or on God’s method(s) of sanctification.
Yours sincerely,
