Methodism was originally a revival movement within the Church of England but eventually many participants formed a separate denomination because they couldn't fit within the Anglican structure and traditions. The revival was pioneered in the 1730s by two young Welshmen, Daniel Rowland and Howell Harris, and three Englishmen, George Whitfield, and the Wesley brothers, John and Charles. All five were Anglican clergymen.
The first Methodist preacher to arrive in Norwich was James Wheatly, a Welsh cobbler whom John Wesley had refused to recognise as one of his followers in 1751. He had been exercising a very effective ministry of evangelism in the West Country until an accusation was made against him, resulting in his dismissal. Undeterred, he arrived in Norwich later that year and commenced open air preaching in Tombland and near to the Castle, with dramatic results. It is said that crowds of many thousands would flock to hear him and very quickly some 2,200 people had responded to his invitations. Bearing in mind that Norwich had a population of 36,000 living in 7,000 households, this was an amazing response. Wheatley's open air preaching is commemorated by a plaque on the wall at the bottom of Prince's Street, facing across to the Cathedral, and usually obscured by a large pot plant
Wheatley's ministry quickly stirred up opposition from various quarters. Local clergy considered him to be an illiterate babbler, and the local tavern owners claimed that trade was adversely affected by the apparent reformation in morals that initially appeared. The young dandies of the local Hell Fire Club, which met in the nearby Bell Hotel, took great delight in gathering bands of roughs, filling them up with strong drink and setting them onto the preacher and his hearers. For many weeks during 1751 there was daily rioting on the city streets and again in the spring and summer of 1752, Wheatley being beaten insensible on more than one occasion. Shops were looted, passers by were robbed and women were sexually assaulted in broad daylight. Very rarely did the magistrates take any action to prevent this violence, and then only in response to the persistent protests of various prominent citizens such as Henry Gurney. Eventually a company of Dragoons had to be called in to restore order. This period of extreme social unrest lasted for about nine months. In spite of this Wheatley persisted and many people still showed a willingness to meet together, resulting in the erection of a wooden tabernacle in Orford Place.