Peter Cartwright (1785-1872) was born in Amherst County, Virginia. The family
soon moved to Logan County, Kentucky, where 16 year old Peter was converted at a
camp meeting and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church. He became a preacher in
1802 and was later ordained by Francis Asbury and William McKendree. In 1812 he
was appointed a presiding elder (now District Superintendent), and he served in
that office for the next fifty years.
Cartwright moved from Kentucky to Illinois in 1824. In his autobiography he
gave several reasons for this decision. Among them were that in Illinois he
"would get entirely clear of the evil of slavery, that he could improve his
financial situation and procure lands for my children as they grew up. And...I
could carry the Gospel to destitute souls that had, by their removal into some
new country, been deprived of the means of grace."
Cartwright was a founding member of the Illinois Annual Conference in 1824,
and remained in Illinois for the rest of his life. He was a towering figure of
frontier Methodism and one of the most colorful and energetic preachers the
church has produced. He was elected to 13 General Conferences and called himself
"God's Plowman."
Despite (or perhaps because of) his own background, Cartwright tirelessly
promoted Methodist education and helped found McKendree College (Lebanon),
MacMurray College (Jacksonville), and Illinois Wesleyan University
(Bloomington). He also was active in state affairs. Twice a member of the
Illinois legislature, he ran for the United States Congress in 1846, but was
defeated by the Springfield lawyer, Abraham Lincoln.
In 1808, Cartwright married Frances Gaines; together they had two sons and
seven daughters, one of whom, Cynthia, died on the journey to Illinois.
The present Cartwright Church began in 1824 as a class in the Cartwright
home. In 1838, Cartwright donated land and $300 towards the construction of a
log chapel where the congregation worshipped until 1853. By that time, the
church had grown so much that it had to divide into two congregations. One moved
two miles west and built the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church (which was torn
down in 1953). The other moved into the new village of Pleasant Plains and the
current building was constructed in 1857. Two additions have been made, but the
sanctuary is nearly the same as it was during Cartwright's time.
Points of interest at this Heritage Landmark: Five places
make up the Landmark. Most prominent is the Peter Cartwright Church, which has a
small museum with family artifacts; Cartwright's pulpit is still used in the
church. Peter and Frances Cartwright, their oldest son Madison, and other family
members are buried in the Pleasant Plains Cemetery. In addition, visitors can
see the site of the log cabin home of Eliza Cartwright Harrison, oldest
Cartwright daughter, and the site of original farm home of Peter Cartwright.
Bethel Cemetery is the site of Bethel Church and the burial place of Cartwright
daughter Mary Jane Mickel. Parking and restroom facilities are available at the
Cartwright Church, which is also wheelchair accessible.
Special events: The Peter Cartwright Memorial Sermon is
preached on the third Sunday in September. The congregation also places a wreath
on Cartwright's grave at the conclusion of the worship service on Memorial
Sunday in May.
http://www.gcah.org/research/travelers-guide/peter-cartwright-united-methodist-church
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For more on Peter Cartwright and his mentor, Francis Asbury. I would like to invite you to the website for the book series, The Asbury Triptych Series. The trilogy based on the life of Francis Asbury opens with the book, Black Country. The opening novel in this three-book series details the amazing movement of John Wesley and George Whitefield in England and Ireland. The book richly brings to life the life-changing effects on a Great Britain steeped in addiction to gin and illiteracy. Black Country also details the Wesleyan movement's effect on the future leader of Christianity in the American colonies, Francis Asbury. The website for the book series is www.francisasburytriptych.com. Again, thank you, for the post.
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