Abstract
Primitive Methodism was born exactly two hundred years ago as an offshoot of the huge American-style Camp Meetings held in a field in the hilltop village of Mow Cop. Frowned on by mainstream Wesleyans, the often rough-and-ready preachers nevertheless made a great impact, particularly among working-classes. In many ways the `Prims' were the Pentecostals of the nineteenth century — unconventional, charismatic and speaking a language `understonded by the puple' (Wycliffe). The story of Dick Weaver and Bendigo, champion bareknuckle pugilist, is just one episode from a colourful history.
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