The Methodist Church in Britain
THE METHODIST CHURCH IN BRITAIN
Over 70 million people are part of the worldwide Methodist Church. It is the fourth largest Christian Church in Britain today with over 6,000 churches, 330,000 members and over 1,000,000 people connected with its work.
The Methodist Church shares with all Christian Churches the 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 the resurraction offers a new start beyond our wildest dreams. We share this belief because of the presence of God, the Holy Spirit, who continues to work and move within us today.
The Methodist Church grew out of a revival movement within the Church of England, in the 18th century, led by a talented preacher and organiser, John Wesley (1703-1791). He encouraged social action as well as prayer and Bible study. The early Methodist visited the imprisoned, championed the abolition of slavery and offered free education and medicine to the poor. Social concern continues to this day among the Methodist of Swansea and Gower.
