Francis Asbury (ăz'bərē, -bĕ-), (August 20, 1745 – March 31, 1816) was one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now The United Methodist Church in the United States. As a young man in October 1771, English-born Francis Asbury traveled to America and, during his 45-year ministry in America, he devoted his life to ministry, traveling on horseback or by carriage thousands of miles to faithfully deliver sermons to those living on the frontier. Bishop Asbury's tireless leadership helped spread Methodism in America. He also launched several schools during his lifetime, although his own formal education was limited. His journal too left a lasting legacy and is valuable to scholars for its account of frontier society, as well as giving insights into his personal life and ministry.
Read more about Francis Asbury: Biography, His Journal, Veneration, Namesakes
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