User:WilyD/William Case/Nathan Bangs

Nathan Bangs
Nathan Bangs was a Methodist circuit rider.

Bangs was born in New England in 1779 and was educated at a common-school. His father attempted to give Bangs a classical education himself, but this did not take. His father subsequently taught him surveying. Around 1792 the family moved to the Delaware River valley area of New York. There he was exposed to travelling Methodist preachers, and he converted to Methodism, along with his mother and siblings. Three of his brothers would become Methodist preachers.

Bangs left New York on May 9, 1799, travelling to Upper Canada. There he intended to find work as a surveyor, as there was much demand for surveying in Upper Canada. Bangs travelled with his sister and her husband. He settled around Niagara, where he became a class leader in the local Methodist class. In 1801, he worked as an assistant to Joseph Sawyer, a local circuit rider. Bangs was received on trial for the Methodist itinerary in 1802. The former Niagara district was split in two that year, with Bangs assigned to the new Long Point circuit. The 1803 conference assigned him to Bay of Quinte and the Home district. He travelled to the 1804 conference in New York City where he was ordained a Deacon and an Elder, and taken into full connexion. He was assigned to River la French. He wandered as far as Detroit, preaching not only to Christians, but also unconverted Indians and white settlers who had never heard a sermon. In 1806, Bangs was assigned to the Quebec City Circuit. Arriving in Quebec City, his preaching initially drew large audiences, but within a month they had dwindled to about a half-dozen people. Curiosity drew out crowds, but it failed to maintain them, and Bangs quickly ran out of money. He scraped along in poverty for three months, then traded circuits with Samuel Coate, travelling to Montreal. He was assigned to the Niagara Circuit in 1807 by Bishop Asbury at the annual conference, but the presiding elder of the District reassigned him before he had reported, instead sending him back to Montreal. He attended the 1808 District Conference in New York, and the next day the General Annual Conference in Baltimore. He was assigned to the Delaware Circuit that year. He rode the Albany Circuit in 1809, with Isaac B. Smith as his assistant.

In 1812, Bangs was made the Presiding Elder of the Lower Canada District, also riding the Montreal Circuit. Bangs was esteemed within the church, and could have requested and received a much more pleasant assignment. However, with war brewing between Britain and America, few riders would volunteer for assignment to Canada, and Bishop Asbury would not assign non-volunteers. Bangs volunteered to be assigned to Canada, as there was a desperate need for volunteers. The war prevented Bangs from reaching his assignment, however, and Bangs instead was made Presiding Elder of the Croton Circuit.