List of presidents of the Methodist Conference

John Wesley, founder of Methodism, organised and presided over the first Methodist Conference, which was to become the church's governing body.

Presidents follow Wesley's example in travelling the length and breadth of Great Britain, visiting and preaching in local Methodist chapels.

[1] Presidents also have an important role representing the Methodist Church in the wider world (most prominently, appearing at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall).

[13] Additional information on twentieth century Presidents is provided by the Manchester University's Methodist Archives and Research Centre.

A later record indicates that amongst those serving as Primitive Methodist presidents before 1849, there were, in addition to those listed below, Hugh Bourne, William Garner, Thomas Bateman, Joseph Bailey, George Tetley, Sampson Turner.

William Thompson was the first President of the Methodist Conference after John Wesley's death.
Thomas Coke , twice President of the Conference in 1797 and 1805, was the first Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church .
Joseph Benson was elected President twice, in 1798 and 1810.
Jabez Bunting was four times chosen to be President
John Scott Lidgett was the first President of the post-Union Methodist Conference, 1908–1909