Methodist Historical Society of Ireland Archives and Study Centre EHOD 2026

Introduction to the archives of Irish Methodism. It contains original letters of John Wesley to his colleagues in Ireland and displays of his routes during his 21 visits to the island.

Memorabilia of Wesley and his successors, including Adam Clarke. Of special interest this year is the Commonplace book of Roger Lamb containing drawings illustrating his service with the British army during the American war of Independence.

The displays include early scores of the musician Samuel Wesley, a lock of hair of the hymnwriter, Charles Wesley. There are examples of early baptismal registers, eighteenth-century printed hymnbooks and pamphlets.

The archive demonstrates the method of preserving fragile pages from eighteenth-century ledgers of a Dublin charity 'The Stranger's Friend Society' and early musical scores – as well as the revival of 250 years of newsprint through digitisation and word-search facilities.