The history of the Methodist movement and how it grew into the Methodist denominations we know today:

Origins in England (1700s)

The Methodist movement began in the early 1700s with John Wesley and his brother Charles Wesley, both priests in the Church of England. They never intended to start a new denomination — instead, they wanted to revive the Anglican Church by focusing on holiness, personal piety, and social justice.

John Wesley’s methodical approach to Bible study, prayer, and service earned his followers the nickname “Methodists.” They emphasized:

Personal faith and conversion (“being born again”)

Holiness of life and good works

Evangelism and preaching in the open air

Care for the poor and marginalized

Methodism Comes to America (1700s)

Methodism spread quickly to the American colonies through preaching circuits. During the American Revolution, ties with the Church of England broke down, and Methodism began to organize independently.

In 1784, at the famous Christmas Conference in Baltimore, the Methodist Episcopal Church was officially formed, making Methodism its own denomination in the U.S.

Splits Over Slavery and Race (1800s)

Like the Baptists, Methodists split over slavery.

In 1844, the Methodist Episcopal Church divided into North and South factions when a bishop in Georgia refused to give up enslaved people.

After the Civil War, Black Methodists often left to form their own denominations, including the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church (founded 1816 by Richard Allen, even earlier) and the AME Zion Church (founded 1821), because of racism in white-led churches.

Mergers and Growth (1900s)

In 1939, the Methodist Episcopal Church (North), the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and the Methodist Protestant Church reunited to form 

The Methodist Church.

In 1968, The Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to create today’s United Methodist Church (UMC).

The UMC became one of the largest Protestant denominations in the world, known for balancing personal faith with a strong emphasis on education, hospitals, social services, and social justice issues.

Modern Methodism (2000s–Today)

Social Issues: The UMC has been deeply divided over LGBTQ+ inclusion, particularly around same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBTQ clergy. This led to a historic split in 2022, when conservatives formed the Global Methodist Church.

Abortion: The UMC generally allows abortion in limited cases (health, rape, incest, severe fetal abnormalities), unlike more conservative denominations.

Politics: Methodists have historically leaned toward social justice activism — abolition, women’s rights, civil rights, and global mission work.

Key Takeaway

Methodism began as a renewal movement within the Church of England, spread rapidly to America, and became its own denomination in 1784. It split over slavery, reunited, and grew into the United Methodist Church. Today, it faces new divisions, particularly over LGBTQ+ inclusion, but it remains one of the most globally influential Christian traditions.