Thomas Coke (bishop)

Thomas Coke ( born September 9, 1747 in Brecon / Wales; † May 3, 1814 before Ceylon ) was the first bishop of the Methodist Church.

Life

Coke was the son of a wealthy pharmacist. He studied at Jesus College, University of Oxford. In 1772, he became a pastor of the Anglican Church, had to give up in 1776 because of his evangelical tendencies but, after which he joined the Methodists his curacy in Somerset. There he quickly became well- chosen John Wesley's most important helper and from this as his successor. 1784 Wesley Coke wore the supervision of the Methodists in the United States by appointing him to the local superintendent. Coke turn certain Francis Asbury as his deputy. Together, they were faced with the so-called Methodist Episcopal Church, which was given its own church order.

In the next 25 years, Coke paid the U.S. Methodist congregations regular visits from, but is partially regarded with suspicion because they feared him loyalty conflicts in relation to Great Britain on the one hand and the U.S. on the other hand, but he made also instrumental in assuring the Methodist Church was able to consolidate in the United States. In addition, he also took trips to the West Indies, Canada and West Africa to promote the mission by Methodists. He also distinguished himself as a writer, from whom a multi-volume commentary on the Bible, as well as a history of the West Indies. Coke died during a trip to India, he also wanted to open up for the Methodist Mission.

Works

• A history of the West Indies: Containing the natural civil, and ecclesiastical history of each Iceland. 3 vols London from 1808 to 1810 ( reprint 1971)