What is Methodism?
The Methodist Church of Great Britain is a Protestant Christian denomination in Britain and the mother church to Methodists worldwide. It participates in the World Methodist Council, the World Council of Churches and other ecumenical associations.
The Methodist Church is the fourth largest Christian Church in Britain, after the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches and the Church of Scotland. It has more than six thousand churches and a total membership of approximately 189,000 people meeting is over 4,000 churches. There are Methodist Churches in nearly every country in the world and global membership numbers some 90 million people {source – World Methodist Council}.
Methodism began primarily through the work of John Wesley, who led an evangelical revival in 18th-century Britain. An Anglican priest, Wesley adopted unconventional and controversial practices, such as open-air preaching, to reach factory labourers and newly urbanised masses uprooted from their traditional village culture at the start of the Industrial Revolution. His preaching centred upon the universality of God’s grace for all, the effect of faith on character and the possibility of perfection in love during this life.
Where does the name come from?
The name Methodist derives from a derisory nickname given to John Wesley and a group of friends at Oxford University who met regularly for Bible study, prayer and Holy Communion, as well as working among the underprivileged members of the community. Wesley encouraged people to embrace religion from the heart as this would make a real difference in how they lived their lives. By meeting together for worship, prayer and Bible study in a regular and methodical way.
John Wesley 1703 to 1793
Beliefs and worship
Methodists stand within the Protestant tradition of the worldwide Christian Church. Their core beliefs reflect orthodox Christianity. Methodist teaching is sometimes summed up in four particular ideas known as the ‘Four Alls’.
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All need to be saved.
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All may be saved.
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All may know that they are saved.
- All may be saved to the uttermost.
Methodist churches vary in their style of worship during services. The emphasis is often on Bible reading and preaching, although the sacraments are an important feature, especially the two instituted by Christ: Eucharist or Holy Communion and Baptism.
Hymn singing is a lively feature of Methodist services. At our Church we enjoy a wide mix of modern and contemporary worship music. The founder’s brother, Charles Wesley, was a prolific hymn writer and many of his works are still sung today both in Methodist and other churches.
