A London staymaker and tailor, he was a prominent member of the Fetter Lane Society. In 1738 he accompanied John Wesley to Herrnhut, where his knowledge of German was useful. Admiring Count Zinzendorf, he joined the Moravians and became the minister of the Moravian congregation at Oxford; but in 1743 he was expelled for criticizing them and the following year reinforced John Wesley's growing prejudice against Zinzendorf. He rejoined the Methodists, but proved a disruptive influence at the Orphan House, Newcastle and in Birstall.
Charles Wesley's MS Journal:
March 1740: By three we got to Oxford, where the little flock is kept together by our brother Viney, whose stillness does not yet consist in trampling upon God's ordinances.'
Oct. 25 1744: 'Met the Birstall Society, whom Mr. Viney had almost quite perverted, so that they laughed at all fasting, and self-denial, and family prayer, and such-like works of the law. They were so alienated by that cunning supplanter, that they took no notice of John Nelson, when he came back - for all that, Viney taught them, was "animal love".
Entry written by: JAV
Category: Person
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