2-970-154 - /Heritage Images

Monument to John Wesley, to be erected at Epworth, 1856. Memorial to '...to the founder of Methodism...the good people of the town of Epworth, in Lincolnshire (Wesley's birthplace), propose to commemorate his excellence by the erection of a statue "by a National Penny Subscription", so as to afford all classes the means of participating in the good work...Mr. Tilbury, the artist, has designed the intended monument, which is exceedingly appropriate. The statue of Wesley, 7 feet 9 inches in height, is placed upon a square stone basement...Upon this basement rises a Gothic floriated baldachino, or canopy, underneath which is, of course, the figure. The attitude of Wesley is indeed expressive, holding the Bible in one hand. He is represented as exhorting the people with that earnestness and truth which so distinguished his life...The whole is surrounded by an appropriate palisading'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.