Methodist Philatelic Society

Fijian Methodists celebrate in song

2010-02-06T14:08:00.009Z

This description of the 2008 Fiji Christmas stamps is taken from the website of the Fiji Philatelic Bureau:

Christmas 2008: A Celebration in Song

Even though nearly half of the population of Flji is not Christian, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are public holidays, and Christmas is celebrated in some way by all segments of the population.
While all Christian denominations include choral music as part of their liturgy, none emphasise it to the same extent as the Wesleyan Methodist Church (Lotu Weseh), which was historically the first denomination to bring Christianity to Fiji, and still today commands the allegiance of some four-fifths of the indigenous Fijian population. Indeed, the annual Methodist Choir Competition, which takes place along with a bazaar before the annual Conference (Koniveredi), is the single largest gathering of indigenous people in Fiji, and looked forward to by Fijians, Rotumans and other ethnic groups from every corner of the archipelago. For many in rural areas and remote islands, it is their only trip to the capital city Suva, where it is usually held, and they will save every penny during the year to be able to splash out on boat fares and a colourful and elegant choir uniform, and to buy handicraft or sample the culinary delights that other participants bring with them to sell.

Wesleyan Methodism was introduced to the island of Lakeba, in the Lau Islands of eastern Fiji, by Reverends David Cargill and William Cross, in 1835.They had ~ preceded by three Tahitian missionaries of the London Missionary Society, who had had limited success, and a number of the Tongans who regularly visited Lakeba and the Lau Group had also become Methodists and had introduced some concepts and practices of the new lotu (Christianity).

It was soon discovered the Fijians had a natural aptitude for singing. A particular style of polyphonic traditional chant was adapted to the new religion, and the earliest hymns, composed in the dialects of Lau and Somosomo, were sung in this style. Before long, it had become customary to chant the Fijian translations of the Te Deum, Apostles' Creed and Litany from John Wesley's abridgement of The Book of common Prayer in this sonorous and rhythmic polyphonic chanting style.The popularity of hymn-singing is evident in the fact that 4,000 Fijian hymnbooks were printed in 1843 - long before mass conversions to Christianity, and when very few Fijians could read.

Towards the end of the nineteenth century, western style four-part harmony was introduced and quickly gained popularity, as Methodist missionaries translated standard English hymns into Fijian, and soon Fijians themselves were composing and adapting. As in other Pacific nations, the notation used was tonic sol-fa rather than staff notation, and this remains the most popular notation to this day. Gradually the traditional chanting style was lost, and now it is confined to singing the psalms, Fijianised as same, and in Lau the catechism (tare), usually chanted by women before the Sunday service.

It is jokingly said that Welsh people "break into four-part harmony at the drop of a hat", and the same could justly be said of Fijians. Choir practice is probably the most widespread form of social activity, with the exception perhaps of kava drinking. National rugby teams (both fifteens and sevens) have become famous for singing melodious hymns of praise after games, in stark contrast to the traditional challenge or war dance (cibi) performed beforehand.

As illustrated in these stamps, there is a fairly rigid dress code, with men wearing isulu vakataga (tailored wraparound sarongs) and women isuluira and jaba (dress over ankle-length skirt), but a great variety of styles, colours and accessories. At Christmas, choirs sing Fijian versions of well-known English carols, such as Bogi buts (Silent night), So memela dina mat (Ding-dong merrily on high), No ivakatawa era to), No ivakatawa era tu (While shepherds watched), Mai na koro i Tevita (Once in royal David's city) and Keitou go no kilaka- (We three kings); and, of course, no Christmas would be complete without a resounding rendition of Aleluya - Handel's Hallelujah Chorus!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T16:06:00.003Z

The Methodist Philatelic Society wishes all members, friends and casual visitors

a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and blessed New Year.

Methodist Philatelic Society Annual General Meeting

2009-06-16T18:33:00.003+01:00

Saturday 26th September 2009

St John's Methodist Church

Wolverhampton Road East

Wolverhampton WV4 6EE

The room will be available for 10.00 am

for members to exchange material, arrange displays

and judge the entries for the competitions

before the AGM at 2.00 pm

COMPETITIONS

JT Aungiers Cup for 8 to 12 sheets on an aspect of Methodist philately

that may include stamps, postal history, postmarks,

postcards or postal stationery.

Grace & David Clark Cup for a single sheet on an aspect of worldwide Methodism,

its life and mission.

JW Crocker Trophy for a maximum of 6 sheets of Methodist

postal history at least 50 years old.

Charles Wesley stamps from the British Virgin Islands

2009-05-08T22:25:00.003+01:00

Finally an illustration of the Charles Wesley tercentenary set from BVI. This was issued on 5th January 2008, a little late for the 2007 tercentenary but I suppose better late than never.

"The Methodist Church with the Men in Service"

2009-05-07T19:27:00.004+01:00

An interesting WW2 postcard with a US Army Postal Service 34 cancel of May 11 1945. This was sent by the Chaplain of 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Division, part of the allied forces in Italy.

The card was issued by the US Methodist Commission on Chaplains.

1841 Primitive Methodist Circuit Plan

2008-10-03T10:08:00.006+01:00

Here's another beautiful postal history item spotted on eBay. The seller's description reads:

1841 Staffs Primitive Methodist Preachers Plan Newcastle Under Lyme Circut Lords Day Plan for Clsyton, Penkhull, Little Madeley, Knutton Heath, Wrine Hill, Stoke, Hlmerend, Onnely, Scott Haty, Keele, Hanford, Checkley, Shelton Locks and other in week night plan. Preachers names and residences. Letter from W.E. Saunders to Nr Nayland care of Nr Edwards, Southampton Road, Romsey Hampshire. 4 Margin 1d red from black plate 7 to 10 right star white flaw. Cover dated 1841 April 14th, Romsey & Newcastle Under Lyme backstamp.

Fascinating World War 2 Methodist Cover from Finland

2008-09-09T11:58:00.004+01:00

The illustrated cover has recently been sold on e-Bay for US $229. Click the picture to see a full size image.

It's a fascinating cover, here is the e-Bay seller's description: Finland airmail registered cover to the US censored by Finland and by the British. Illegible Helsinki postmark probably late 1941 or early 1942. Lisbon backstamp 22 Jan. 1942. On front purple "Held by British Censor until Jan1946". Also smaller "RELEASED" in black. NYArrival marks on back. So what info was the Finish Methodist Committee sending to the Methodist Committee in the US that was so dangerous?

A good question! The cover is clearly printed stationery of the Finnish Methodist Church and comes from around the time when the United Kingdom had declared war on Finland following Finland's 1941 attack on the Soviet Union, known to the Finns as the "Continuation War". Essentially the Finnish government had taken advantage of Hitler's invasion of the USSR to try and recover the territories lost in the "Winter War" of 1939/40.

The cover may well have been posted in December 1941 before the USA entered the war and had reached Lisbon en route to a US address by 22 January 1942. So how did it end up in the hands of a British censor? And why was it held until the end of the war?

Methodist Philatelic Society AGM & Competitons

2008-08-01T11:34:00.002+01:00

This year's AGM will be held at Wesley's Chapel, City Road, London EC1Y 1AU on Saturday 27th September 2008. This is within walking distance of Moorgate and Old Street Tube stations. Click here for a map.

Entries are welcome for the three competitions on Methodist Topics:
1. The JT Aungier Trophy (8-12 sheets)
2. The Grace & David Clark Cup (single sheet)
3. The John Crocker Memorial Trophy (Single sheet of postal history at least 50 years old)

The room will be open from 10am for displays, etc., followed by the AGM from 2pm until 4pm. All members and friends are invited.

Methodist Poster Stamp from Korea

2008-05-04T21:52:00.003+01:00

Poster stamps can be defined as any stamp (non-denominated) created to advertise or commemorate a product or event. The evolution of the poster stamp is that it was originally a miniature version of a poster issued to advertise or commemorate a product or event.

This particular poster stamp (click on the picture to see it full size) was issued in Korea in 1934 and marked the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of Methodism in that country. Methodism has continued to thrive in Korea with the autonomous Korean Methodist Church now claiming 1.5 million members.

GB "Wesley" Christmas Mini-sheet update!

2008-01-05T12:18:00.000Z

Here's a funny thing. Last year this website featured a short article about the "Hark the Herald Angels" GB Christmas miniature sheet, with its reference to Charles Wesley. It's now been brought to my notice that the illustration in that piece, used in Royal Mail pre-issue publicity, was wrong. If you look at the FDC pictured here, you'll see that the 69p value at the top right was replaced in the issued sheet with a 78p stamp. An example of very fast inflation in stamp prices?

Bahamas Charles Wesley Tercentenary issue

2007-12-26T12:04:00.000Z

Another new issue for Charles' 300th Anniversary, this time from the Bahamas. More information about these stamps soon.

Montserrat Charles Wesley FDC

2007-12-26T11:54:00.000Z

New Charles Wesley Issue from Montserrat

2007-12-01T09:22:00.000Z

Another new issue for Charles Wesley, this time from a British overseas territory, the Caribbean island of Montserrat.

The Montserrat Post Office will issue a miniature sheet on 18th December to mark the 300th Anniversary of the birth of Charles Wesley. The sheet features four $2.50 stamps, three of which show portraits of Charles. The fourth stamp portrays Bethany Methodist Church on the island.

Montserrat's Georgian-era capital city of Plymouth was destroyed and two-thirds of the island's population forced to flee abroad by an eruption of the previously dormant Soufriere Hills volcano that began on 18 July 1995. The eruption continues today on a much reduced scale, the damage being confined to the areas around Plymouth including its docking facilities and the former W.H. Bramble Airport.

New Charles Wesley stamp from Ireland

2007-11-17T08:36:00.000Z

The following details come from the Irish Stamps website:

300th Anniversary of the Birth of Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and his brother John were instrumental in the birth of the Methodist tradition. Their teachings and practices earned the name 'Methodist' because of their strict adherence to the Book of Common Prayer. Charles Wesley is also remembered for his achievements in lyrical composition. Over the course of his lifetime, he published the words of more than five and a half thousand hymns, and composed the words for a further two thousand. Among these are a number of timeless classics, including Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing. The stamp was designed by Steve Simpson, based on a painting entitled The Lily Portrait-which is reproduced courtesy of the Methodist Studies Unit, Oxford Brookes University, England. The First Day Cover, also designed by Steve Simpson, features a church organ from Saint John's in the Wood Church, Dartry, Co. Monaghan.

Technical Details
Date of Issue: 15 November, 2007
Value & Quantity: 78c (.28m) - This is the rate for international letters up to 100g.
Design: Steve Simpson
Stamp Size: 29.79mm x 40.64mm
Colour: Multicolour with phosphor tagging
Make-up: Sheetlets of 16
Perforations: 14 x 15
Printing Process: Lithography
Printer: Irish Security Stamp Printing Ltd

A Methodist cover from Switzerland

2007-11-07T09:04:00.001Z

An interesting 1927 "printed matter" cover and contents from an American Methodist charity "Methodist Child Welfare" based in Zurich. Click on the pictures to view them full size.

Methodist Philatelic Society AGM in pictures!

2007-09-29T21:09:00.000+01:00

A good turnout for today's AGM at Keynsham Methodist Church and congratulations to Roger Lee on his election as Society Chairman. Here are some pics of the occasion:

GB Christmas Minisheet to commemorate Charles Wesley

2007-08-30T23:31:00.000+01:00

The Royal Mail will be issuing a miniature sheet version of its Christmas stamps on 6 November 2007. This sheet will commemorate the great Methodist hymn writer Charles Wesley who was born 300 years ago in 1707. Charles was, of course, the author of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing", an ever-popular carol for stamp designers!

Methodist Philatelic Society AGM

2007-08-19T23:51:00.000+01:00

The Methodist Philatelic Society Annual Meeting will take place at Victoria Methodist Church, Charlton Road, Bristol BS31 2JA, UK on Saturday 29th September 2007. See a location map here. Please note that Victoria Church is located in the High Street, we will have access to the meeting room via the rear door in Charlton Road.

The Paddington/Bristol railway service stops at Keynsham station.

The programme will be:
10.00 am. Start. The room will be available for members to meet, arrange displays, buy and sell material.
2.00 pm. AGM will commence and results of competitions will be announced.
4.00 pm. Close of meeting, tea will be available.

Entries are welcome for the two competitions:
1. The Tom Aungier Trophy for an exhibit of 8 to 12 sheets illustrating some aspect of Methodism, its mission or its organisation.
2. The Grace and David Clark Cup for a single sheet of philatelic material of Methodist interest.

Montserrat Charles Wesley issue 18 December 2007

2007-05-28T14:05:00.000+01:00

MPS Cover Service Secretary Ronnie MacMillan writes to confirm that a miniature sheet containing 4 stamps will be issued on 18 December 2007:

"I have seen a copy and it will be a joy to add to our collections! Three portraits of Charles, with the fourth stamp showing Bethany Methodist Church. Sheet music for Hark the Herald Angels Sing is shown in the margins. Only the miniature sheet is being issued, no stamps! The portraits are, The lily, c. 1735, artist unknown; John Russell c. 1771; and the 1786 engraving by Jonathon Spilsbury.

As far as my contact in Montserrat knows, no other Caribbean nations are commemorating this event."

Cover Service Update 2007

2007-05-10T21:40:00.000+01:00

The first cover produced by MPS this year, 2007, is now in stock with the Cover Service Secretary and commemorates John Wesley and William Wiberforce. Issued on 22 March on the first day of issue of the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade stamps. The cover design features the letter written by Wesley to Wilberforce on 24 February 1791, encouraging him to continue his work to abolish slavery. This was the final letter of John Wesley's life, he was to die a few days later. Wilberforce's 20 year campaign against the slave trade concluded when the Slave Trade Act received Royal Assent on 25 March 1807. The Royal Mail postmark used is the quote, "Am I not a man and a brother". Covers priced at £2.00 plus postage are available from the Cover Service. As this cover is to hand it will be included in the 2006 sending to subscribers.

Other covers planned for this year will commemorate:

The 300th anniversary of the birth of Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, who was born on 24 August 1707.

The 150th anniversary of the first assembly of the United Methodist Free Churches.

The 75th anniversary of the signing of the Deed of Union of the Methodist Church of Great Britain.

And of course the Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, which this year will be held in Blackpool. As in previous years we will sponsor a special one-day handstamp.

Two other important events will also be celebrated with covers which will also bear special one-day hand-stamps. The first, in May, will recognise the 200th anniversary of the First Camp Meeting of the Primitive Methodist Church at Mow Cop. The design selected illustrates Hugh Bourne and William Clowes, the founders of Primitive Methodism and is based on the frontispiece of a book published many years ago. Royal Mail have approved Paul MacMillan's artwork for the hand-stamp, featuring the folly at Mow Cop.

The second sponsored hand-stamp is planned for the tercentenary of the birth of Charles Wesley and at this time is only at the planning stage until Royal Mail releases details of the miniature sheet planned for issue in November. We have learned that Ireland will issue a stamp for this event and it is thought that Montserrat are also planning to release stamps to celebrate this notable occasion. Arrangements are being made with MPS members in the USA to produce a Charles Wesley cover with a Georgia hand-stamp.

During the latter months of the year we will see the launch of the Methodist Church in Wales and there is a possibility that something may be done for this too.

Can I also mention that I hold a "for sale" list of Methodist covers going back over many years. If it is of interest please contact me for more details.

Ronnie MacMillan
Cover Service Secretary

Antigua Methodist Church Anniversary

2007-03-24T21:15:00.000Z

This attractive set, issued on 7th November 1983, celebrates Antigua's Methodist Church Anniversary.

The 15c portrays John Wesley, while the 16c and $3 values illustrate St John's and Ebenezer churches from the Antigua Methodist Circuit.

The 50c features a portrait of Nathaniel Gilbert, described on the stamp as the "Founder of Methodism in Antigua". Gilbert (c.1721-1774) was born on Antigua, the son of a wealthy planter and slave-owner and was a descendent of the famous explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert.

Gilbert trained for the law in England and returned to Antigua, where he entered the House of Assembly. He visited England in 1757 and was converted after hearing John Wesley preach in London. Upon his return to Antigua, he started preaching to his slaves, although he did not emancipate them, despite John Wesley's urgings. This marked not only the beginning of Methodism in the West Indies but also the commencement of the movement's missionary activities.

Gilbert remained prominent in Antiguan affairs and was elected Speaker of the House of Assembly in 1763.

An Epworth League Cover from 1899

2007-01-26T20:38:00.000Z

This interesting cover (click on the picture for a larger version) was posted in Los Angeles, California on February 7, 1899. It is a printed cover for the Second Annual Epworth League Assembly and School of Methods due to be held on February 21-24 in Los Angeles. It is addressed to Canada and the reverse bears a Toronto receipt cancel of February 12, 1899 and an Epworth League Assembly cachet:

The Epworth League (named after the Wesleys' birthplace) was an organization of the young people of the Methodist Episcopal Church, formed in 1889 at Cleveland, Ohio, USA, by the combination of five young people's organizations then existing. The purpose of the league was the promotion of "intelligent and vital piety" among the young people of the church. The League existed in both the Northern and Southern branches of the Methodist Episcopal denomination and also in the Methodist church of Canada.

The membership of the Senior branch in the Methodist Episcopal Church North in 1913 was 593,465, and of the junior branch 218,509. In the Methodist Episcopal Church South there were, in 1913, 3,846 chapters of the league, with 133,797 members. The headquarters of the Northern League was in Chicago and its magazine was the Epworth Herald. The magazine of the Southern branch was the Epworth Era, published monthly at Nashville, Tennessee. The League's motto was "Look Up, Lift Up".

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

2006-12-20T18:19:00.000Z

The only British stamp ever to celebrate Methodism was this 19p Christmas issue of 1999. The stamp was part of a series of four released by Royal Mail entitled "The Christian's Tale," celebrating the previous 1,000 years of Christian experience in Britain. American-born artist Brody Neuenschwander, an internationally renowned calligrapher living in Belgium, designed the stamp.

The stamp design incorporated a mixture of written texts and image, an approach for which Neuenschwander is particularly well known. As part of his research into the Wesleys, the artist visited John Wesley's Chapel in London as well as Wesley College in Bristol. One of the chapel's stained-glass angels served as inspiration for the stamp.

Hark! the herald angels sing,

"Glory to the new born King, peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!"

Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies;

with th' angelic host proclaim,

"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King!"

Westminster Central Hall

2006-11-20T20:51:00.000Z

Westminster Central Hall stands in Victoria Street, London, directly opposite Westminster Abbey. The Hall serves as a Methodist Church as well as a conference and exhibition centre.

Central Hall was built in 1912 and funded by 1,025,000 contributors between 1898 and 1908 to the 'Wesleyan Methodist Twentieth Century Fund' (or the 'Million Guinea Fund' as it became more commonly known), whose aim was to raise one million guineas from one million Methodists.

Central Hall hosted the first meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in 1946. It has been regularly used for political rallies - famous speakers include Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill.

On 14 April 1958, the United Nations issued 3c and 8c stamps to commemorate the first meeting of the General Assembly. Both used the same design which pictured Westminster Central Hall and which can be seen on the First Day Covers shown above.

Philippines issue stamps to mark centenary of Methodist Hospital

2006-11-03T15:56:00.000Z

An interesting piece of news about a new Methodist-related stamp issue. Read all about it here: LINK

John Wesley commemorated

2006-11-03T12:33:00.000Z

Back in 2003 members of the Methodist Philatelic Society worked hard, but unsuccessfully, at trying to persuade Royal Mail to mark the 300th Anniversary of John Wesley's birth.

It's nice, therefore, to see that some other postal administrations did feel this was an event worth marking. The set illustrated was issued by the Bahamas on 27th April 2004 (so a little late) and shows:
15c Methodist Church at Cupid's Cay, Governor's Harbour. 25c Church at Baillou Hill Road and Chapel Street, Grant's Town. 50c Wooden church at Marsh Harbour. 65c Ebenezer Methodist Church. 70c Trinity Methodist Church. 80c Portrait of John Wesley by Antonius Roberts.

Wesleyan Methodist Church – Ulleskelf, N. Yorks

2006-10-16T17:16:00.000+01:00

John Nelson was instrumental in establishing a Methodist community in the village, having founded one at Acomb near York. He came in 1746, whilst staying at Milford Hall nearby. His service took place in the open air near where the old chapel was later rebuilt. A regular meeting house was organised in 1780 and the first chapel built in 1827. It is to the rear (the last chimneys mark the building). For 12 years it was unheated and a stove was in place by 1839, put in by the Sunday School. The first Band of Hope was held here in 1883 and the same year a library of books was added but ceased after a few years due to the expense of buying new books.
By 1913 a new chapel was needed and was added to the front, as seen on the postcard. It can hold 180 people, has an organ chamber and arrangements for the choir. The old chapel was to remain for the use of the Sunday School.

POSTCARD
It was printed at the time of the opening of the chapel. This one was written on November 1st, 1918 a few days before the end of hostilities of the 1st World War. It was written to a visitor who was due to speak on the 3rd but had not been in touch with them. It remarks: “I am sorry but things are very much upset just at the moment owing to the war”. A service of thanksgiving was held in the chapel on November 13th, just 2 weeks later, to celebrate the cessation of hostilities.

Thanks for the information go the granddaughter of the person who wrote the card, who was amazed to see her relative’s handwriting on the card.

Terry Smart

Methodist Colleges

2006-10-09T18:00:00.000+01:00

Methodist Colleges can provide an interesting theme within Methodist philately.

Today's first cover comes from the old Hartley Victoria Methodist College in Manchester. The Manchester Theological College admitted its first students in July 1881. The College's early years were marred by severe financial difficulties, but by the beginning of the 20th century, under the direction of the Principal, Dr Arthur Samuel Peake, 105 students were being trained at the College for the Primitive Methodist Ministry.
In 1906 the College was renamed after the industrialist Sir William Hartley, and in 1934 Hartley College amalgamated with the nearby Victoria Park College to form the Hartley Victoria College. In 1972 the decision was taken to close Hartley Victoria, but the College survived and continues to operate on a smaller scale in premises shared with the Baptist Church.

The second cover is from Wesley College, Belize City in the former British Honduras (now Belize). Unlike Hartley Victoria, which existed to train new candidates for the ministry, this College is a church-affiliated secondary school. Together, the two covers show some of the breadth of educational interest within the Methodist Church over many decades.

Cover from a WW1 Canadian Methodist Chaplain

2006-10-04T10:06:00.000+01:00

A Methodist postal history item displayed at the Annual Meeting of the Methodist Philatelic Society at Wesley's Chapel, London on 30th September 2006.

Canadian military cover posted from APO S.11, dated 23 OC 18. This was the Army Post Office serving the large BEF camp complex at Etaples, France. The letter was written and self censored by Captain Rev. J. Bruce Hunter, while serving at No. 7 Canadian General Hospital (7 CGH), Canadian Army Medical Corps. Although the censor number in the censor handstamp type 6 (CM6) was erased (standard practice when a letter was addressed to a country outside the British Empire), it almost certainly was that used by 7 CGH. The hospital was located at Etaples from 14 October 1916 to 31 May 1919.

Captain Rev. J. Bruce Hunter, a Methodist Chaplain, was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the Bourlon Wood operations before Cambrai. On 27 September 1918 he went over the top with the attacking wave and untiringly ministered to the wounded under very heavy enemy shelling and machine gun fire. He not only dressed the wounded but repeatedly, and under fire, assisted in carrying wounded men back to safety.

Rev. John Bruce Hunter had been appointed Captain and Chaplain to the Canadian Overseas Forces on 15 August 1916 and the following May sailed for England. He was initially posted to Witley Camp with the 208th Battalion, Irish Canadians. In August 1917 he was posted to the Discharge Depot, Buxton, where he remained until ordered to France for duty with the Canadian Corps in April 1918.

John Bruce Hunter was promoted to Major in May 1919. By 1942 he was minister of St. James United Church in Montreal, Québec, a Lt-Colonel and Chaplain of Canadian Military District No. 4.

Some Methodist Stamps

2006-10-01T21:34:00.000+01:00

Grenada miniature sheet from 1986 showing St George's Methodist Church and celebrating the 200th Anniversary of Methodism in Grenada.

Ireland 1997 portraying John Wesley, founder of Methodism.

New Zealand 1972, the 150th Anniversary of Methodism in New Zealand.

Methodist Conference Cover 2006

2006-10-01T12:45:00.000+01:00

As usual the Methodist Philatelic Society commissioned a special Royal Mail postmark and a commemorative cover design for the 2006 Methodist Conference in Edinburgh. The postmark motif draws on the Conference "Forth Bridge" logo, turning it into a Scottish saltire. An appropriate commemoration of the first Methodist Conference to be held in Scotland.

This cover will be supplied to members of the MPS Cover Service. Contact the Society (see top of page) if you'd like to purchase a copy.

Methodist Philatelic Society Cover Service

2006-09-30T21:41:00.000+01:00

A cover service is available for members and supplies to subscribers on an annual basis, where possible, all known Methodist related covers and stamps. This part of the Society is funded by members themselves who subscribe, initally paying a deposit in advance. A sum of £15 (US$25) will usually cover a normal year. This enables the Society to buy, commission or organise the printing of covers and inserts to commemorate significant Methodist events or to purchase stamps.

The illustration is of a cover which will be sent to 2006 subscribers and which commemorates the 50th Anniversary of Wesley Methodist Church, Winchester, UK.

For more information contact the Cover Service Secretary

Welcome to the Methodist Philatelic Society

2006-09-30T20:46:00.000+01:00

Methodist philately can include special stamp issues, historic Methodist covers and postal history, postcards and modern covers.

To the left are a set of stamps issued by the West Indian island of Antigua, marking the establishment of an autonomous Methodist Church.

The example on the right shows both sides of a postcard sent in the 1930s by Methodist missionaries in China asking for funds.