Wesley museum seeks book sponsors

Contemplations Upon The History Of The New Testament is part of a collection of rare books and artefacts at the Old Rectory Museum in Epworth, the birthplace of John and Charles Wesley, founders of the Methodist movement.

Published in 1661, it contains the signatures of several of the Wesley family.

Museum curator, the Rev Claire Potter, said: "It is in serious need of conservation so we are inviting people to donate 1 to dedicate the restoration of a single page to someone special to them."

Sponsors can write dedications that will be bound in a book and kept in the rectory's library.

The appeal was launched at a "Weslyana" day held at the Grade I listed building, attended by more than 150 people, when a panel of experts was able to shed light on artefacts brought in for inspection relating to the Wesleys, Methodism and Epworth.

Some of the more unusual pieces were a brass doorknocker made as a likeness of John Wesley, an oil painting of him framed in velvet, and an 1805 Bible.

Other items included statues, ceramics, prints, paintings and books. Each item was logged and photographed and some were donated to the museum.

The event was held to raise money for the Old Rectory's development project, which aims to open the entire house to visitors and create a visitor centre at the site, with a caf, museum shop and other facilities.

An Epworth Old Gardens weekend, which featured the sale of locally grown plants, raised 500, and a sale of books netted a further 350.