The first circuits, 1746

The earliest preachers under John Wesley were itinerant, and preached around an area from a home base. The "circuit", or "round" as they were first named, was therefore the natural name for the area they covered. At first they were named after their founder of main itinerant preacher. For example, 'John Bennet's Round', or the 'Circuit of William Darney's Societies'. The first official list dates from 1746.^[1]

1. London (including Surrey, Kent, Essex, Brentford, Egham, Windsor, Wycombe);
2. Bristol (including Somerset, Portland, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucester);
3. Cornwall
4. Evesham (including Shrewsbury, Leominster, Hereford, and from Stroud to Wednesbury);
5. Yorkshire (including Cheshire, Lancashire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Lincolnshire);
6. Newcastle
7. Wales

Within that area a number of "societies" would be formed. During the 18th century, John Wesley did not intend establishing churches in a new denomination. His vision was for a revival movement within the Church of England. The societies would be a gathering of people who met for Bible study, prayer, mutual encouragement, and preaching. Usually, this was during the week so that they could attend services in the parish church.^[2] The earliest circuits covered a very large area, but gradually shrank as the number of societies increased.

Milestones in Wesley's early Methodism

The first Wesleyan Methodist society was formed in 1738, the first Methodist building was The Foundery acquired in 1739, and the first class meetings were in 1742.^[3]

The first (Wesleyan) Methodist Conference took place at the Foundery in June 1744. The known first plan (of preaching appointments) was made by Wesley in London in 1754. The first recorded quarterly meeting (the usual business meeting of the circuit) was at Todmorden Edge Farm, Todmorden, on 18 October 1748.^[4]

John Wesley drew on existing structures, especially those used by the Moravians, who had been so instrumental in his own spiritual development. At their Herrnhut colony he witnessed gatherings for testimony and mutual edification, select bands, classes, conferences on doctrine, open air preaching, preaching by laymen, itinerant preachers, and orphan homes. 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.^[5]

The beginnings of class meetings

The Wesleyan societies were composed of "bands", which were meetings of 5 to 10 like-minded people seeking Christian perfection, and considered the inner core of the societies. John Wesley drew up rules for these in December 1738.^[6] Some of the early societies were known by the name of the person in whose home they met, such as 'Mr. Fox's Society', and 'Mr. Ingham's Society'. The origin of the "class" was partly accidental. 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. While in Bristol, John Wesley met some members of the society there. 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. Soon afterwards, on hearing that someone was not living as he should, Wesley realised that the group of 12 for collection of money was the basis of a group for weekly meeting for prayer, Bible study, and mutual encouragement.

A class book was kept recording their attendance and their contribution to the funds.^[7] When membership rolls started being used to record names of those attending, the very early ones begin with a list of class members. Members were defined as those who had been baptised, received instruction in Methodist governance, and at a special service, were received into "full membership". 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.^[7] Each class was headed by a class leader.

One function of the class leader is that the "class ticket",^[8] a quarterly membership ticket for Methodists, be given to his class members, and withheld from those whom they judged unworthy of being called Methodists.^[9][10] The ticket is the membership card for Methodists.

Wesley did not claim the class as essential or of "divine institution", but as wise for practical regulation of Methodists.^[11]

Connexion

Do not allow yourself one thought of separating from your brothers and sisters, whether their opinions agree with yours or not.

— The Revd John Wesley^[12]

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. All were in connexion primarily with him and thence with each other.^[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). All circuits and districts are ultimately subject to the annual Conference.^[12]

After Wesley's death, schisms and resultant branches of Methodism in Britain meant that there were multiple connexions, each with its own conference, before the connexions were united in 1932. Whilst the various branches differed in the balance of authority accorded to the various levels of church government, all accepted some form of connexionalism. This was manifested in "a common bond of discipline and usage for the societies with transferable membership, and the itinerant ministry of those 'in full connexion' with the Conference and stationed by the Conference".^[14] Methodist ministers are still "received into full connexion" prior to being ordained.^[12]

Supporting the annual conference, the Methodist Council meets three times each year.^[15] The 2022 Conference agreed to establish a new body, the Connexional Council, which will replace the Methodist Council and the former Strategy and Resources Committee.^[16]

District

Districts are geographical units, typically one to three counties in extent. There are thirty districts across Great Britain—including two overlapping districts in Wales, one English-speaking and one Welsh. The governing body is called a synod.^[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. Wherever possible the work of the District is carried out ecumenically. The District is thus an expression, over a wider geographical area than the Circuit, of the connexional character of the Church.^[18]

Circuit

A circuit is a grouping of local churches under the care of one or more ministers. They number about 360 (as counted in 2019^[update]),^[19] and this figure is declining as more circuits amalgamate.^[20] The circuit is the main functional unit of Methodism, in that a large number of activities are organised at this level. Ministers are appointed firstly to the circuit and then secondly to the pastoral care of local churches. This means ministers will ordinarily preach and lead worship each Sunday in any church on the circuit but during the rest of the week they exercise pastoral charge over a subset of churches in that circuit.^[21] Preaching appointments for both ministers and (lay) local preachers are organised by the circuit and advertised on a preaching plan issued every three months by the leader of the circuit, the superintendent minister.

Local church

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.^[23] Membership is always tied to the local church, where members meet together for worship and fellowship. Each congregation is led by a presbyter in charge—also referred to as "the minister". As of 2019^[update] there were almost 170,000 members of 4,110 churches.^[19]

Class

A class is a group of Methodists, normally about twelve, under the guidance of a class leader.^[24] In the 20th century it became less common for classes to actually meet together, but many local churches have home fellowships, Bible studies groups, and cell groups by other names.^[25] Under the church's Constitutional Practice and Discipline (CPD), where the number of registered local church members falls below six over four successive quarters, the formal "local church" ceases to be recognised as such and is often treated as a "class" subject to the oversight of another Methodist Church or leader.^[26]

Structure

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.^[44] So while this list implies a chain of authority, it is of function rather than rank.

Meetings

The "Circuit Meeting" (originally the "Quarterly Meeting") is the main governing body of the circuit, and consists of all ministers living in the circuit, circuit officers, and officers and elected representatives of the various churches in the circuit. The circuit officers are officially responsible for the running of a circuit; they are collectively responsible for finances, though almost invariably one of them will be appointed treasurer. The preachers (local preachers and ministers) also hold a quarterly "(Local) Preachers' Meeting" that governs worship and preaching issues.

The "Church Council" is held twice per year or as required to govern the business of individual churches. Officers of the church council will include a secretary and treasurer.