Organisation of the Methodist Church of Great Britain

This means that British Methodism, from its inception under John Wesley (1703–1791), has always laid strong emphasis on mutual support, in terms of ministry, mission and finance, of one local congregation for another.

Wesley himself journeyed around the country, preaching and establishing local worshipping communities, called "societies", often under lay leadership.

Soon these local communities of worshipping Christians formalised their relationships with neighbouring Methodist communities to create "circuits", and the circuits and societies contained within them, were from the very beginning 'connected' (hence the distinctive Methodist concept of the "Connexion") to the centre and Methodism's governing body, the annual Conference.

The societies would be a gathering of people who met for Bible study, prayer, mutual encouragement, and preaching.

[2] The earliest circuits covered a very large area, but gradually shrank as the number of societies increased.

Most of these features had, indeed, been anticipated by the Waldenses in the 16th century, between whose organisation and that of the Moravians and Methodists there are striking, though probably accidental, resemblances.

By 1742, John and Charles Wesley had about 1100 Methodists in London for whom they felt a pastoral responsibility, but could not keep in touch with them and continue their other work.

One, Captain Foy, suggested that every member give a penny a week until a debt there be paid.

When someone objected due to the poverty of many, he offered that 11 of the poorest be grouped with him, he would collect the subscription, and make up any shortfall if any could not pay.

[7] When membership rolls started being used to record names of those attending, the very early ones begin with a list of class members.

Others in the congregation were called simply "adherents", and although they supported the activities of the Church as fully as members, they did not enjoy voting rights.

Wesley did not claim the class as essential or of "divine institution", but as wise for practical regulation of Methodists.

Do not allow yourself one thought of separating from your brothers and sisters, whether their opinions agree with yours or not.The old-fashioned spelling of connexion reflects Methodism's origins in the 18th century, when the term was used generally, in e.g. political, commercial and religious contexts, to refer to the circle of those connected to some person or group, and to the relationship thus created.

But it was the particular character of the connexion John Wesley maintained with his members, his societies and his itinerant preachers that gave the term its technical significance in Methodism.

[13] The term came to be in some senses equivalent to 'denomination' and, later, to 'Church', and connexionalism was descriptive of a particular principle and pattern of church life which emphasized the interdependence of the constituent parts (over against independency).

Whilst the various branches differed in the balance of authority accorded to the various levels of church government, all accepted some form of connexionalism.

[17] The Methodist Church formally defines the nature and purpose of the district as being: to advance the mission of the Church in a region, by providing opportunities for Circuits to work together and support each other, by offering them resources of finance, personnel and expertise, which may not be available locally and by enabling them to engage with the wider society of the region as a whole and address its concerns.

(...) It has responsibility for the evaluation of applications by Local Churches and Circuits for approval of or consent to their proposals, when required, or for assistance from district or connexional bodies or funds.

The District is thus an expression, over a wider geographical area than the Circuit, of the connexional character of the Church.

[20] The circuit is the main functional unit of Methodism, in that a large number of activities are organised at this level.

Also called "societies" in certain formal contexts (although an increasingly antiquated name),[22] the term "local church" can refer to both the congregation as well as the particular building it meets in.

Methodism holds in principle 'the priesthood of all believers', which is a Protestant doctrine that all true Christians have equal access to God, and Church offices are functional rather than hierarchical.

The one exception was layman William Hartley, elected President of the Primitive Methodist Conference in 1909.

[46] The Conference resolves at the beginning of the Representative Session that the president designated the previous year be elected and similarly for the vice-president-designate.

This is undertaken as if a normal appointment to serve in a circuit, and the term of service is typically some 5 to 10 years.

[47] Local preachers are accredited laypeople who preach and lead worship services in any church on the circuit to which they may be appointed.

The US United Methodist Church does not at present operate on a circuit system, though something like it is reappearing in places.

The diagrammatic map of the Leek area shows the number of "preaching stations" and chapels in existence during the 18th and 19th centuries, both Wesleyan and Primitive.

[51] Modern population trends, and economic pressures, led to the end of Wetton and Longnor as a separate Circuit.