June 8, 2026

Episode 77: The Epworth Poltergeist

In 1716, the Wesley family home in Epworth, England became the site of nearly two months of unexplained knocking, footsteps, and moving objects, all meticulously recorded by the family, including young John Wesley, who would go on to found the Methodist movement. Mary Ann Poll traces the documented history and asks what it meant for a devout family to face something they couldn't explain.EPISODE NOTES● One of the most historically documented poltergeist cases in English history, with primary sources from the Wesley family's own letters and journals.● Thematically strong for a faith-forward show: a devout Christian family, not a secular household, at the center of the haunting.● The case is notable for its witnesses: Samuel Wesley Sr., his wife Susannah, and their children, including the future founder of Methodism.● Susannah Wesley's last words were a charge to her children: 'As soon as I am released, sing a psalm of praise to God.' They did.SOURCES● Samuel Wesley Sr.'s letters documenting the disturbances (1716-1717)● Susannah Wesley's firsthand account● John Wesley's journal references to the 'Old Jeffrey' haunting● Historical records of the Epworth Rectory case

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