The Oxford Centre for Methodism and Church History (OCMCH)
Promoting historic links between Oxford Brookes University and the Methodist Church through archives, artworks, publications and research.
Archives & Library
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff are currently working remotely and do not have regular access to the collections. We are, however, still endeavouring to respond to requests as quickly as we can. To make an enquiry please email admin.ocmch@brookes.ac.uk
To request copies of material from our collections please use this form
‘Archives & Research’
Launched in 2019, ‘Archives & Research’ provides thematic, introductory information about the Centre’s rich collections of archives, artworks, and printed works to support diverse areas of research.
3D Collections
We have collaborated with Digital Services colleagues at Oxford Brookes University to create 3D models of objects from our collections, allowing researchers to manipulate and explore the items in 360° through RADAR, the university’s institutional repository.
John Wesley bust (1793)
Wesleyan Methodist Centenary medal (1839)
Westminster College pudding (c1890s)
Westminster College wooden crest (20th cent.)
Lady Spencer-Churchill College Countryside Award plaque (1970)
Westminster College celebratory squash ball (1978)
Wesley Historical Society Library
The Wesley Historical Society Library is the second most significant collection of Methodist published works in Britain.
– Published material on British Methodism
– Serials of Methodist history and interest groups
– Historic circuit plans
– Archives, images, and manuscripts
The collection can be explored through the Oxford Brookes University online catalogue, which also covers libraries in Bath and Bristol;
OCMCH Archives
The OCMCH’s archival collections are a resource of global standing for research into Methodism and aspects of religion in Britain from 1700.
– Avec Consultancy
– Westminster and Bletchley Park / Land Spencer Churchill Colleges
– Records of Anglican-Methodist Union
– Papers of leading twentieth-century Methodists (Francis Bartels, Donald English, Bill Gowland, Colin Morris, W. R. ‘Reg’ Ward)
Catalogues and hand-lists
Anglican-Methodist Union Collection (DAMUC)
Avec Consultancy (more information on external website)
Bletchley Park and Lady Spencer Churchill College (BP/LSC)
Rev Dr Donald English papers (DEP)
Rev William ‘Bill’ Gowland papers (WGP)
Oxford Institute for Methodist Theological Studies
Voice of Methodism Association (VoM)
Professor R. W. ‘Reg’ Ward papers
