Ship of Fools: Query - Why is the scallop shell a Methodist symbol?

Thread: Query - Why is the scallop shell a Methodist symbol? Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by venbede (# 16669) on :

I was talking to someone who was in a Methodist scout troop some fifty years ago. He told me their badge was an M (for Methodist?) on a scallop shell.

He wondered if there was some connection with St James, which I thought unlikely.

Any suggestions why the shell?

Posted by Kitten (# 1179) on :

I've been given to understand that it was from the Wesley coat of arms

Posted by venbede (# 16669) on :

Thank you.

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

Perhaps they're secret worshipers of Aphrodite? (Sometimes depicted as rising from the sea, in a shell.)
[Big Grin]

Posted by Tea (# 16619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key
Perhaps they're secret worshipers of Aphrodite? (Sometimes depicted as rising from the sea, in a shell.)

There's a Dan Brown bestseller in the making here: Central Hall Westminster replicating the layout of a temple of Venus...Wesley transmits the secrets of the Cyprian priesthood to Coke and Asbury....the erotic mystery cult of the "circuit riders"...any ideas for the title of this masterpiece?

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

'Strangely Warmed'?

(Strap line: And it's not the CH!)

Posted by Custard (# 5402) on :

The Method

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

Yes, Tea, re a Dan Brown novel. [Smile]

And Firenze's got the perfect title. But what does CH mean, please??

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

Central Heating.*

Or, I suppose, Central (Hall) Heating.

*always used here in property ads.

Posted by blackbeard (# 10848) on :

Not nearly so interesting, but ...
I understood that the scallop shell was used as a badge for a medieval pilgrim.

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

quote:
Originally posted by blackbeard:
Not nearly so interesting, but ...
I understood that the scallop shell was used as a badge for a medieval pilgrim.

I think the OP had already discounted any connection to the pilgrimage to St James of Compostella.

But I suspect it might require some research into the original badge: was it peculiar to that troop? Who designed it?

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :

All right, on the Methodist Church in Singapore website we get the following (including spelling mistakes)

quote:
These stories added to the missionary tradition of the Wesley family because the Wesley ancestors had fought in the Crusades and one had been martyred in the Holy Land in 1340. This eed the Wesleys to use the scallop shell in the quarterings of their family arms.

More on the heraldry on this site, please note the different spelling of the name. There is more than you could want at this page on Wesley Family heraldry.

Jengie

Posted by Avila (# 15541) on :

No idea on the history but many Methodist churches used to have (may still have?) 'Shell Club' for primary aged children and the scallop shell used as the logo.

Was this a younger version of MAYC and like that nationally linked? (Methodist Association of Youth Clubs)

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

Although I've spent most of my life in the Methodist Church I've never knowingly come across this symbol. If it's linked to Methodist youth work that could be why - I never benefited from a Methodist youth club, Girls' Brigade or anything like that. My church didn't have such things, and no one put in me touch with any other churches in the circuit that might have done.

It's amazing I stayed in the Methodist Church for so long, but that's another story!

Posted by Angel Wrestler (# 13673) on :

This must be a British thing, as I've never seen it in the US, at least not as an "official" symbol, such as the cross-and-flames. Shells have been used for baptism, to sprinkle the water onto someone's head. Usually the pastor just uses his or her hand, but sea shells, or metal scoopers that are forged to resemble a sea shell, are also used. As a symbol, say, on a Chrismon tree, it is a remembrance of our baptism.

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :

I would say it is deprecated rather than a British thing. It is wider than just the UK, maybe not in the US but still widely used elsewhere in the world (Singapore and South Africa both come up when googling). However it looks as if it is a symbol that Methodists are loosing their attachment to. For instance it is not on the current Methodist Church in Britain home page.

Jengie

[ 05. July 2013, 20:14: Message edited by: Jengie Jon ]

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

While the British Methodist Church is still very respectful towards the Wesley brothers, and Charles's hymns are still proudly sung, the idea that the Wesley coat of arms/scallop shell would have a noticeable place on the denominational website strikes me as strange. I think the clergy have to study John's sermons at some point, but the laity aren't expected to relate to the Wesley family. And from an evangelistic point of view fewer and fewer people who might enter the Methodist Church now would have any knowledge or particular interest in the Wesleys.

I suspect that most of the British people who are studying the history of the Wesley family these days are non-Methodist historians. They wouldn't go to the British Methodist Church website for their information.

Posted by The Machine Elf (# 1622) on :

I remember these badges or something similar, but when did the MAYC cease to exist? I'm sure I attended something that used the MAYC name in the late 90's/early 00's.

Posted by Sober Preacher's Kid (# 12699) on :

The symbol representing the Methodists in the United Church of Canada's crest is the Descending Dove, not a scallop.

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

quote:
Originally posted by The Machine Elf:
I remember these badges or something similar, but when did the MAYC cease to exist? I'm sure I attended something that used the MAYC name in the late 90's/early 00's.

I can't find any sign that MAYC has ceased to exist, but then again, I've never seen much sign of it in action either, despite having spent my teenage years (1980s) in the Methodist Church.

I suspect that MAYC only exists in certain areas. I once heard that a Methodist church in my circuit had a youth club - but the one or two people who mentioned it to me weren't Methodists. I don't remember my own church encouraging its young people to get involved in anything like that. It's strange.

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