Who are the Methodists?

Methodists try to reflect in their lives the love which God wishes to share with all people. In worship Methodists give thanks to God who loves us and has set us in a world of possibilities. They give thanks for one another.
They pray that God will continue to sustain and enable everyone to live fulfilled lives. Methodist worship is characterised by a lively tradition of hymn singing and a passionate regard for preaching the love and justice of the gospel of Jesus.

The priority of Methodists is to tell people about the Good News of Jesus and lead them to faith and to Christian Discipleship. They also embrace care for individuals and communities; involvement in education and development for all. In struggling for a just world, being alongside the poor, caring for the earth and getting to know other cultures and faiths.

So how did Methodism come about?

Methodism has at its roots one person whose vision determination and faith inspired fellow seekers to re-assess that lives and renew their relationship with God. John Wesley (1703-1791) challenged the religious assumptions of the day, urging those to whom he preached to 'trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation' for the assurance that we are all forgiven through Christ. When John Wesley was at Oxford University, he was part of a small group of students who held regular meetings for Bible study, prayer and Communion. This earned them the nickname The Holy Club' or 'Methodists'.

Wesley became a priest in the Church of England, but in 1738 had a spiritual experience which he described as God working in his heart through faith in Christ.

He launched a hugely influential preaching ministry and had a flair for organising people into small groups. These he named classes, with locally appointed preachers and leaders, which studied the gospels and prayed together. Wesley's new movement became a separate Church which grew rapidly throughout the 18th century and afterwards.

How does Methodism fit into the rest of the Christian Church?

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 close spiritual links with these and the United Reformed Church and other free churches.
All the Christian Churches share a common a belief that God is the creator and sustainer of all life and that the death on a cross of God's son Jesus Christ was an act of total love which through his resurrection offers a new start beyond our wildest dreams. We share this belief because of the presence of God the Holy Spirit, who continues to move and inspire in the world today.