The Past.  To help spread the Methodism Church, John Wesley (the father of the Methodist Church) put together a plan that enlisted preachers who traveled to different communities to spread the Word of God. Their trips, also known as circuits, helped to lay the foundation for the Methodist Church, especially in the South. Circuit Riders were servants of God who accepted a very difficult and dangerous task. They rode on horseback and labored against the forces of Mother Nature, often through the night. The Riders traveled famously light, carrying only their Bible and small amounts of food, and earned very little money.

The Present.  The The North Carolina Wesleyan College Department of Athletics, in coordination with the Battling Bishops Club, unveiled a newly designed Bishops logo in July of 2006. The decision to seek a new logo design came in the fall of 2005 with overwhelming support from students, athletes, faculty, staff, and alumni. A special committee was then appointed to oversee the project, which decided on building the new moniker around the idea of the "circuit rider."  Rough sketches were approved in the spring of 2006 with "Wes" and "Charger" being chosen as names for the rider and horse, respectively.

The Future.   Francis Asbury (1745-1816) was the founding bishop of American Methodism. Traveling his circuits, he trekked over 270,000 miles and preached over 16,000 sermons. Like Asbury, the Circuit Rider that represents North Carolina Wesleyan could indeed be considered a “Battling Bishop.” The Rider is symbolic of the values of the College, the Methodist Church, and servitude to God. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW APPROVED VARIATIONS OF THE BATTLING BISHOP LOGO!

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Name of School:	North Carolina Wesleyan College
Location:	Rocky Mount, NC
Founded:	1956
Enrollment:	1,350
Nickname:	Battling Bishops
School Colors:	Navy Blue & Vegas Gold
Affiliation:	NCAA Division III
Conference:	USA South
President:	James A. Gray, III
Athletic Director:	John Thompson
Athletic Department Phone:	252.985.5213
Athletic Fax:	252.985.5252
SID / Title IX Coordinator:	Rikki C. Rich
SID / Title IX Phone:	252.985.5271
Sr. Woman Administrator:	Carol Carson
SWA Phone:	252.985.5221
Faculty Athletic Rep:	Carl Lewis
FAR Phone:	252.985.5166
College Website:	www.ncwc.edu