Circuit Riders

Circuit Riders were itinerant preachers and evangelists in the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily within Methodist and other evangelical movements. They traveled regularly, often on horseback, to visit multiple communities or “circuits,” delivering sermons, providing religious education, and strengthening local churches. Their role was essential for spreading religious teachings and organizing growing Methodist congregations in frontier areas and rural regions. Today, the term is sometimes used metaphorically to describe individuals dedicated to serving and supporting communities across dispersed or underserved areas.