The Primitive Methodist Connexion's mature social character may have been working-class, but this did not reflect its social origins.

In this book, historian Nigel Scotland examines ten powerful revival movements that hugely impacted the social life and culture of large sections of America and the British Isles. Revivals represent a high point of Christian experience, renewing and empowering the life and worship of Christian communities. In consequence they draw large numbers of new people to personal faith in Christ, which in turn brings lasting and positive change to social life and culture. In this book special attention is given to the ways in which vibrant Christian faith challenged racism, fought and overcame slavery, helped to birth trade unions, campaigned for temperance, led to a rapid growth in education, from Sunday schools to universities, provided equal opportunities for women, and renewed family life and relationships.

What exactly is a Methodist?

"With this volume the publication of A History of the Methodist Church in Great Britain comes to its appointed end. The project of writing it was initiated by the Methodist Conference of 1953, and the lapse of time since then has made it possible to include at appropriate points the results of the continuing research into the origins and nature of Methodism; but 'the chance and changes of this mortal life', which are bound to impinge on the progress of so complex an enterprise, together with the heavy involvement of all the contributors in ecclesiastical, ecumenical and academic affairs, have made this period much longer than the General Editors would have wished." -- From the Preface