Johnston, Edward
d.1858; e.m. 1809

Irish minister, born in Co. Tyrone. He responded to an appeal for preachers for Canada and travelled out via New York in 1817. In America he enjoyed friendly contacts with MEC preachers and this led him to question Canadian WM criticism of the American Methodists. Refusing to become embroiled in what he called 'a religious war', he returned to Ireland without Conference authority. Though severely censured by the WMMS, he was treated more leniently by the Irish Conference. His ministry highlights contemporary tensions on both sides of the Atlantic. His later offer to return to Canada was not accepted.

Sources
  • N.W. Taggart, The Irish in World Methodism (1986) pp.81-5
  • Neil Semple, The Lord's Dominion: the History of Canadian Methodism (Montreal, 1996)

Entry written by: NWT
Category: Person
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