We’ve all heard the names John and Charles Wesley, but there are a lot of other important names in the history of Methodism you may not know. The Unsung Heroes of Methodism series tells the stories of lesser-known figures whose lives and witness still impact The United Methodist Church today, even if their names aren’t familiar to us.
Meet more heroes
From the image above you might think Captain Thomas Webb was a pirate. But he wasn’t a pirate, he was a preacher, one of the first Methodist preachers in America, in fact.
What may be so fascinating about Captain Thomas Webb is how he seemed to appear on the pages of Methodist history out of nowhere. We know very little about his early life. He was born in England in the 1720s, served in the British army, and lost his eye in the Seven Years’ War.[1]
Webb was first converted to Methodism in 1765. He was a very charismatic individual and his appearance gave him a commanding presence. He often preached in his uniform and would place his sword on the altar for dramatic effect. But it was Webb’s powerful preaching that ultimately kept listeners’ attention. Wesley was impressed by Webb and allowed him to become an iterant preacher in England.[2]
Still serving as an officer in the British Army, he was sent to New York in 1767. Wesley granted him permission to preach freely across the American Colonies. Methodism had been brought to North America some years before by Irish immigrants settling in Maryland and New York, but there was little-to-no regular contact between these groups. When not on duty, Webb spent every free moment traveling and preaching the Gospel. He would travel among the societies freely, assisting their leaders and helping create a sense of unity among them. Webb also is credited with spreading Methodism to Delaware.
New York was already home to one of the most successful Methodist societies in the American Colonies, founded by Barbara Heck and Philip Embury. Webb helped the society fund the building of its first official meeting house that would later become John Street UMC and preached there regularly.[3]
Webb could see the American societies needed more central organization and joined others in petitioning Wesley to send more preachers to North America. Wesley responded by sending of series of new overseers from Britain to administer the societies, including future MEC bishop Francis Asbury.
Webb continued to itinerate in America until the Revolution. Still serving in the British Army, he was arrested by the new patriot government and spent time as a prisoner of war. After being released he left America for good and lived the rest of his days quietly in Bristol.[4] Webb leaves the story of American Methodism as abruptly as he entered it, but he left behind a great legacy. His preaching had brought on many new conversions and his attempts to bring the scattered societies in the American Colonies together paved the way for future leaders like Francis Asbury. This is why we celebrate Captain Thomas Webb as an Unsung Hero of Methodism.
This content was produced by UMC.org on October 31, 2023. Philip J. Brooks is a writer and content developer at United Methodist Communications. Contact him by email.
[1] "Webb, ‘Captain’ Thomas.” A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland. Epworth Press.
[2] Richey, Russell E., Rowe, Kenneth E., and Schmidt, Jean Miller. The Methodist Experience in America Volume I: A History. Nashville: Abington Press, 2010.
[3] Idem.
[4] Idem.
