4. EARLY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW DENOMINATION

It took O‘Bryan only a few weeks to begin the structure of the new denomination. Since O’Bryan had little to quarrel with the Methodists regarding organization, doctrine, or fundamental values, most of these ideas were readily accepted by O’Bryan and his followers. Even Rev. John Wesley’s plan to choose and appoint women as well as men as itinerant preachers to serve a need in the rapidly expanding missionary field, became an innovative feature of the Bryanites. Although the number of young female itinerants became quite large and their work successful, yet the proportion of women steadily declined until none remained as preachers. With this growing ministry, O’Bryan was soon able to extend his work into Devonshire, England as well as Cornwall, and later to the Scilly and the Channel Islands.

5. THE THORNE FAMILY OF SHEBBEAR, DEVONSHIRE, ENGLAND

177