The Arminian Methodists, The Derby Faith: An Abberration in Pursuit of Revivalism and Holiness.

William Parkes, Merlin Monograph, 1994, reprinted and published by the Wesley Fellowship, 1999, pp.53, £3.50

This short-lived revivalist movement originated in a doctrinal split that occurred on the Derby Wesleyan Methodist circuit in 1832, and for this reason its adherents were often called the ‘Derby Faith Folk’. Although these Arminian Methodists claimed to be faithfully following John Wesley’s teaching on entire sanctification, in fact they departed from Wesley’s strong emphasis on salvation by repentance and faith. They turned saving faith into merely believing that Christ died for sinners and their doctrine of human response was semi-Pelagian. Five years after the movement’s beginning, it broke up and most of its 2000 members joined the Wesleyan Methodist Association. Dr William Parkes, co-founder of the Wesley Fellowship, was a recognised expert in the field of 19th century British Methodism and he knew more about the Arminian Methodists than any other living scholar. This book is the only substantial well-researched account of the ‘Derby Faith’ in print.