The ''Methodist Recorder'' is an independent weekly newspaper that examines events and current affairs within the
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related Christian denomination, denominations of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John W ...
community in Britain and worldwide. It has been published continuously since 1861, absorbing its major rivals the ''Watchman'' in 1883, the ''United Methodist'' in 1932 and the ''Methodist Times'' in 1937.
On 13 February 1992 the ''Recorder'' published its 7,000th edition and the following year published its first
April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day is an annual custom on 1 April consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fools!" at the recipient. Mass media can be involved in these pranks, which may b ...
joke, claiming that there would be a "complete standardisation of Methodist worship" which would require
local preacher
A Methodist local preacher, also known as a licensed preacher, is a layperson who has been accredited by the Methodist Church to lead worship and preach on a frequent basis. With separation from the Church of England by the end of the 18th century ...
s to wear a "uniform" and be trained in clowning and juggling.
In 2010 the ''Recorder'' revamped its design and began to be published in full-colour. Its circulation was estimated at 20,000.
Although not available online, the ''Recorder'' maintains a basic website offering subscription details and a brief outline of the newspaper's contents. A full archive in both bound copies and
microfilm
Microforms are scaled-down reproductions of documents, typically either films or paper, made for the purposes of transmission, storage, reading, and printing. Microform images are commonly reduced to about 4% or of the original document size. F ...
is available from the Methodist Studies Unit of the former
Westminster College, Oxford
Westminster College was a teacher training college and college of higher education in England. The college was founded in London in 1851 as a training institute for teachers for Wesleyan Methodist schools, but moved to Oxford in 1959. Before t ...
, now part of
Oxford Brookes University
Oxford Brookes University (formerly known as Oxford Polytechnic) is a public university in Oxford, England. It is a new university, having received university status through the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. The university was named ...
.
Public access is free of charge (by prior appointment) and a small charge is made for reproduction.
See also
*
Methodist Church of Great Britain
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is a Protestant Christian denomination in Britain, and the mother church to Methodists worldwide. It participates in the World Methodist Council, and the World Council of Churches among other ecumenical ass ...
*''
Primitive Methodist Magazine
The ''Primitive Methodist Magazine'' was the monthly magazine of the Primitive Methodist Church in Britain, spanning just over a century. It was started in 1821. From 1821, the Magazine was edited by Hugh Bourne, who printed the magazine at Bemer ...
''
*''
Wesleyan Methodist Magazine
The ''Wesleyan Methodist Magazine'' was a monthly Methodist magazine published between 1778 and 1969. Founded by John Wesley as the ''Arminian Magazine'', it was retitled the ''Methodist Magazine'' in 1798 and as the ''Wesleyan Methodist Magaz ...
'', originally the ''Arminian Magazine'', founded by
John Wesley
References
External links
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{{Italic title
Religious magazines published in the United Kingdom
Methodism in the United Kingdom
Newspapers established in 1861
Weekly newspapers published in the United Kingdom
1861 establishments in the United Kingdom