Christopher Hopper (Methodist)

Christopher Hopper (1722–1802) was the President of the Methodist Conference in John Wesley's absence, at the Bristol conference in 1780.[1]

Christopher Hopper
President of the Methodist Conference
In office
1780–1780
Preceded byJohn Wesley
Succeeded byJohn Wesley
Personal details
Born25 December 1722
Ryton, Durham
Died5 March 1802(1802-03-05) (aged 79)
Bolton
Known forPresident of the Methodist Conference in Wesley's absence

Life

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Hopper was born in 1722 at Ryton, Durham in the north of England.[1] He entered the Wesleyan itinerancy in 1748.[1]

Hopper became a member of the society at Low Spen, near Newcastle, after Wesley's visit there in July 1743.[1] He had been a schoolmaster before becoming an itinerant.[1] Hopper was Wesley's travelling companion in England, Wales and Scotland (being the first Methodist itinerant venturing north of the border).[1] Hopper was an itinerant for forty-seven years and regularly corresponded with Wesley.[1] Wesley appointed him 'Lord President of the North' in 1768 giving him jurisdiction over the Methodist Societies from Cumberland to Lincolnshire.[1]

Hopper wrote "The plain man's epistle to every child of Adam" in 1766.[2]

Hopper was one of the veteran preachers named in Wesley's Deed of Declaration.[1]

Hopper retired to Bolton in 1792, where he built a house next to the chapel, continuing to preach there.[1] Hopper died at Bolton on 5 March 1802.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k McGonigle, Herbert. "Hopper, Christopher". A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Christopher Hopper". Open Library. 1766. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
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