The decade prior to Lady Huntingdon’s death in 1791 was a time of continuing expansion in the Connexion’s work, with the Countess participating as closely as ever in its administration, and being involved in abortive schemes for Protestant missions in continental Europe. These years were marked by rifts between Lady Huntingdon and three of her leading clerical helpers, and by the failure of plans for a conciliar arrangement to run the Connexion after her death; because no permanent organisational structure had been established, the Connexion passed on her death into the hands of the four devizees to whom she had bequeathed her personal property. By the time of her death, there were few substantial areas of the country untouched by the Connexion, and the Connexion’s preachers were to be a catalyst for revival amongst many Dissenting congregations. In terms of its own ministers and congregations, however, the Connexion was substantially smaller than Wesleyan Methodism. Lady Huntingdon did not have Wesley’s breadth of vision, and unlike Wesleyan Methodism (effectively the only home for Arminian evangelicals), the Connexion was merely one among a number of Calvinist evangelical groupings.
Keywords: Apostolic Society, John Bradford, European missions, Thomas Haweis, Plan of Association, Wesleyan Methodism, Thomas Wills,