October 7, 1817 - First Methodist Church in Australia

North American Methodist preachers and evangelists were accustomed to "preaching the circuit" to several churches within a given area. Depending on the location and distance, a circuit could take weeks or even months to complete. Australia was no different and on October 7, 1817 Samuel Leigh would begin the first Methodist church in Castlereagh by working with a local farmer to convert a barn. His circuit would include 13 churches.