John Kent is Emeritus Professor of Theology, University of Bristol. His many publications include Holding the Fort: Studies in Victorian Revivalism (1978), The End of the Line?: The Development of Theology since 1700 (1982), The Unacceptable Face: The Modern Historian and the Church (1987) and William Temple: Church, State and Society in Britain, 1880–1950 (1993).

'Professor Kent provides sharply critical yet sympathetic (or at least understanding) portraits of Wesley, Wesleyans, and the place of what he helpfully calls primary religion, and there are deftly drawn relationships with Quakers, Dissent, and especially with Anglicanism. It is an important book.' Clyde Binfield, University of Sheffield

• 1. The Protestant recovery; 2. Early Wesleyanism, 1740–70; 3. Later Wesleyanism, 1770–1800; 4. Women in Wesleyanism; 5. Anglican responses; 6. Conclusions.

John Kent is Emeritus Professor of Theology, University of Bristol. His many publications include Holding the Fort: Studies in Victorian Revivalism (1978), The End of the Line?: The Development of Theology since 1700 (1982), The Unacceptable Face: The Modern Historian and the Church (1987) and William Temple: Church, State and Society in Britain, 1880–1950 (1993).

'Professor Kent provides sharply critical yet sympathetic (or at least understanding) portraits of Wesley, Wesleyans, and the place of what he helpfully calls primary religion, and there are deftly drawn relationships with Quakers, Dissent, and especially with Anglicanism. It is an important book.' Clyde Binfield, University of Sheffield

• 1. The Protestant recovery; 2. Early Wesleyanism, 1740–70; 3. Later Wesleyanism, 1770–1800; 4. Women in Wesleyanism; 5. Anglican responses; 6. Conclusions.

John Kent is Emeritus Professor of Theology, University of Bristol. His many publications include Holding the Fort: Studies in Victorian Revivalism (1978), The End of the Line?: The Development of Theology since 1700 (1982), The Unacceptable Face: The Modern Historian and the Church (1987) and William Temple: Church, State and Society in Britain, 1880–1950 (1993).

'Professor Kent provides sharply critical yet sympathetic (or at least understanding) portraits of Wesley, Wesleyans, and the place of what he helpfully calls primary religion, and there are deftly drawn relationships with Quakers, Dissent, and especially with Anglicanism. It is an important book.' Clyde Binfield, University of Sheffield

• 1. The Protestant recovery; 2. Early Wesleyanism, 1740–70; 3. Later Wesleyanism, 1770–1800; 4. Women in Wesleyanism; 5. Anglican responses; 6. Conclusions.