Wesley and Wake

Abstract Chapter 5 explores Wesley’s relationship with his bishop, William Wake of Lincoln. Wesley’s strong and unbending Toryism meant that his relations with Bishop William Wake of Lincoln, who was a Whig, were difficult. Wesley posed a series of questions to Wake about such issues as excommunication, baptism and moral discipline to be imposed on Dissenters. In each case, Wesley seems to have sought Wake’s counsel with the intention of persuading him that the demands of parish life were such that toleration of Dissent was remarkably problematic. In addition, the issue of Dissenting, or ‘lay’ Baptism was an issue which divided them. Wesley’s interest in a charity school for the parish was also very clear and he clearly wanted Wake to endorse this. By a close and detailed examination of the correspondence between Wesley and Wake it is clear that while they shared an ambition for the Church they saw the ways to achieve it very differently.