William McKendree was a native of Virginia, the oldest of the eight children of John and Mary McKendree. At the time of William's birth, his father was a small planter in King William County, but in 1764 he removed to James City County, and six years later to Greenville County. Not until he was thirty-one did the future bishop become a preacher.
McKendree's schooling had been most elementary, and his experience only such as an unimportant planter might acquire, augmented by that which came from service in the Revolutionary War, during which he is reputed to have risen from the ranks to the office of adjutant, and been present at the surrender of Cornwallis. Whatever early religious training he had received had been in connection with the Established Church.
When about nineteen, McKendree had joined a Methodist society on probation, but it was not until more than ten years later that, under the evangelistic activities of Rev. John Easter in Virginia, he was thoroughly converted. Without consulting him, through the recommendation of Easter, the Virginia Conference, meeting at Petersburg, June 1788, appointed McKendree a helper on the Mecklenburg circuit. Though he undertook the work with many misgivings, the year's experiences convinced him that he was divinely called to spread the knowledge of salvation. In June 1790, Bishop Asbury ordained him deacon, and in December of the following year, elder. Hardly had his ministry begun when a crisis arose which almost separated him from the Methodist Episcopal Church. Under the influence of James O'Kelly, later a seceder and founder of a new sect, he became distrustful of Asbury, and at the General Conference of 1792 supported O'Kelly in his attempt to secure a limitation to the powers of the bishops. When the attempt failed he left the Conference with O'Kelly and his followers, and at the succeeding session of the Virginia Conference declined to take an appointment. Soon afterward, however, at Asbury's invitation he accompanied him for a time on his travels, and as a result of this association McKendree's views changed and he accepted an appointment to Norfolk. For twenty years he served on circuits as a traveling pastor or as presiding elder. Until 1800 his labors were chiefly in Virginia. In 1800, he accompanied Asbury and Whatcoat on their journey west of the Alleghanies, and was put in charge of that vast region which included western Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and sections of Illinois, Tennessee, and Mississippi.
Elected bishop at the General Conference of 1808, he was Asbury's only associate until the latter's death, Bishop Coke being out of the country. Although treating his senior with great deference and affection, McKendree was no mere assistant. In spite of Asbury's disapproval, he inaugurated consultation with the presiding elders in the making of appointments, and the "cabinet" has remained an institution of the Conference down to the present time. At the General Conference of 1812, much to Asbury's amazement, he presented a written statement of his views on prevailing conditions, and the episcopal address became a fixed custom. Although relieved of the fixed duties of his office after 1820 because of physical infirmities, he continued to make long journeys and contributed to the superintendency of the work until his death. In 1830, he gave 480 acres of land to Lebanon Seminary, Illinois, the name of which was changed to McKendree College. He died at the home of his brother, Dr. James McKendree, Sumner County, Tenn. , in his seventy-eighth year, and was buried nearby. Later his body was taken up and re-buried on the campus of Vanderbilt University.
McKendree was a strict constitutionalist, and when the question of how presiding elders should be selected came to a crisis at the General Conference of 1820 he took extreme grounds in opposition to limiting the bishops' power of appointment.
Scanty as his early advantages had been, McKendree had the character, the whole-souled consecration to his calling, and the natural gifts which his time and place required. He was tall and attractive physically, with all the graces of the gentleman; he preached with a sincerity, simplicity, force of illustration, and evangelistic zeal which were highly persuasive; he had business sense and skill as a parliamentarian, acquiring as the years went on a knowledge of Methodist government and discipline second to none; he was wise and prudent. Tireless and diligent, he frequently preached every day in the week. He was an important factor in the Great Revival in the West, and for eight years was the life and soul of the army of itinerants in this pioneer field.
Quotes from others about the person
"He was a man of great energy and genius, and was deeply pious and modest almost to timidity. His mind was clear and logical, his knowledge varied and extensive, his imagination lively but well regulated, and his eloquence was unusually powerful. He was careful in the administration of discipline, and intruduced system into all the operations of the church. " - Bishop Matthew Simpson
McKendree was never married.
