Philip Embury
Encyclopedia
Philip Embury was a Methodist preacher
, a leader of one of the earliest Methodist congregations in the United States
.
that emigrated from the Palatinate to Ireland
early in the eighteenth century, and in which Wesley
labored with great success. The colony had formed from refugees from the War of the Spanish Succession
. Embury was educated at a school near Ballingrane, County Limerick
, Ireland, and learned the carpenter
's trade. He was converted on Christmas
day, 1752, became a local preacher at Court-Mattress in 1758, and married Margaret Switzer that fall.
In 1760, due to rising rents and scarce land, he came to New York City
and worked as a school teacher. In common with his fellow emigrants, he began to lose interest in religious
matters, and did not preach in New York till 1766, when, moved by the reproaches of Barbara Heck
, sometimes called the “foundress of American Methodism,” he began to hold services first in his own house on Barrack Street, now Park Place, and then in a rigging loft on what is now William Street. The congregation thus formed was probably the first Methodist congregation in the United States
, though it is a disputed question whether precedence should not be given to Robert Strawbridge
, who began laboring in Maryland
about this time. Before this, he and his cousin Barbara Heck had worshiped along with other Irish Palatines at Trinity Lutheran Church where three of his children had been baptized.
The first Methodist church was built under Embury's charge in 1768, in association with Thomas Webb
and others, on the site of the present John Street Church, and he himself worked on the building as a carpenter, and afterward preached there gratuitously. In 1769, preachers sent out by John Wesley arrived in New York City, and Embury went to work in the vicinity of Albany
at Camden, New York
, where he continued to work at his trade during the week, and preached every Sunday. He and several others had received a grant of 8000 acres (32.4 km²) to develop for the manufacture of linen
. He organized among Irish emigrants at Ashgrove, near Camden, the first Methodist society within the bounds of what became the flourishing and influential Troy
Conference.
He died suddenly, in consequence of an accident in mowing, and was buried on a neighboring farm, but in 1832 his remains were removed to Ashgrove churchyard, and in 1866 to Woodland cemetery, Cambridge, New York
, where in 1873 a monument to him was unveiled, with an address by Bishop Simpson.
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, a leader of one of the earliest Methodist congregations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Embury's parents were members of the colony of GermansGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
that emigrated from the Palatinate to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
early in the eighteenth century, and in which Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
labored with great success. The colony had formed from refugees from the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. Embury was educated at a school near Ballingrane, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
, Ireland, and learned the carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
's trade. He was converted on Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
day, 1752, became a local preacher at Court-Mattress in 1758, and married Margaret Switzer that fall.
In 1760, due to rising rents and scarce land, he came to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and worked as a school teacher. In common with his fellow emigrants, he began to lose interest in religious
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
matters, and did not preach in New York till 1766, when, moved by the reproaches of Barbara Heck
Barbara Heck
Barbara Heck was an early American Methodist, known as the “mother of American Methodism.”-Biography:...
, sometimes called the “foundress of American Methodism,” he began to hold services first in his own house on Barrack Street, now Park Place, and then in a rigging loft on what is now William Street. The congregation thus formed was probably the first Methodist congregation in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, though it is a disputed question whether precedence should not be given to Robert Strawbridge
Robert Strawbridge
Robert Strawbridge was a Methodist preacher born in Drumsna, County Leitrim, Ireland.A member of the single Protestant family in the area, he moved first to Sligo, then emigrated to Frederick County, Maryland between 1760 and 1766. He began preaching in Maryland soon after his arrival, making him...
, who began laboring in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
about this time. Before this, he and his cousin Barbara Heck had worshiped along with other Irish Palatines at Trinity Lutheran Church where three of his children had been baptized.
The first Methodist church was built under Embury's charge in 1768, in association with Thomas Webb
Thomas Webb (Methodist)
Thomas Webb was a Methodist pioneer.Webb was a British officer, served in the royal American army, and was wounded at Louisburg and Quebec...
and others, on the site of the present John Street Church, and he himself worked on the building as a carpenter, and afterward preached there gratuitously. In 1769, preachers sent out by John Wesley arrived in New York City, and Embury went to work in the vicinity of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
at Camden, New York
Camden, New York
Camden, New York may refer to:* Camden , New York, a township of Oneida County* Camden , New York, a village within Camden township...
, where he continued to work at his trade during the week, and preached every Sunday. He and several others had received a grant of 8000 acres (32.4 km²) to develop for the manufacture of linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
. He organized among Irish emigrants at Ashgrove, near Camden, the first Methodist society within the bounds of what became the flourishing and influential Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
Conference.
He died suddenly, in consequence of an accident in mowing, and was buried on a neighboring farm, but in 1832 his remains were removed to Ashgrove churchyard, and in 1866 to Woodland cemetery, Cambridge, New York
Cambridge, New York
Cambridge, New York, may refer to either:* Cambridge , New York, the Town of Cambridge located in Washington County, New York* Cambridge , New York, the Village of Cambridge located within the Town of Cambridge, New York....
, where in 1873 a monument to him was unveiled, with an address by Bishop Simpson.