Historic Methodism and Stance on Healthcare

[HenningWalker]

I have some family who were based in Camborne and earlier St Columb Major who were all Methodists. It seems that there was also quite a family tradition for not accepting medical assistance and I was interested to know whether this may have been a Methodist view held at that time or whether it was just the stance of that side of the family who also happened to be Methodists?

In 1879 my 3xGreat-Grandfather was taken to court for refusing to have his 7 month old son vaccinated and wrote other letters to the newspaper through the 1880s about his views. He died in 1910 as he refused to have surgery to remove his appendix. I also found an obituary for his mother who died in 1899 as a result of refusing medical assistance.

I know that the family where strong Methodists, although I am curious to know whether there was a link between the two things at the time or whether it was just coincidence.

Many thanks in advance,

Henning Walker

[KGarrad]

Apparently it still happens in USA.
(Do an internet search on "Methodist refusing medical treatment")

What branch of Methodism were the family in?

[HenningWalker]

Thanks for that - I was finding a mixture of things online and wasn't sure how definitive some of the answers were. I'll have another look shortly.

I believe that they were all Wesleyan Methodists.

Many thanks,

Henning

[KGarrad]

My lot in Devon & Cornwall were Bible Christians - who took the Bible almost literally.
No stories from them, but I can imagine they may have had a hard stance on medical intervention?