What on earth is Methodism? Trivia Quiz

Answer: John Wesley

John Wesley, an Anglican Priest, was the founder of Methodism although his intention was never to start a denomination, having famously stated that he "lived and died an Anglican".

The Protestant Reformation had its origins in Martin Luther; William Booth started the Salvation Army and St. Ignatius of Loyola was responsible for the Jesuits.

Answer: Charles

Charles was four years younger than John and both were ordained in the Church of England. It is estimated that Charles wrote between 5,000 and 10,000 hymns during his lifetime.

Answer: 1700s

John was born at Epworth, Lincolnshire, in 1703 and died in London in 1791.

Answer: I felt my heart strangely warmed.

John had returned to England after a deeply unhappy period of ministry in America which had shaken his self-belief and filled him with doubt.

The journal entry reads: "About a quarter before nine, while the leader was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Answer: At a religious meeting held at Aldersgate Street in London.

This meeting wasn't a Church service as such but that of a Huguenot Religious Society. The Religious Society movement had sprung up in the late-1600s as an "add-on" for those who wanted to take their faith more seriously. When we think of Methodism during Wesley's lifetime we must think of it in this light rather than as a separate Church.

Two Societies that played a part in this movement - SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge) and SPG (Society for the Propagation of the Gospel) - still exist in the UK today.

Answer: He died professing faith in Jesus Christ and therefore Methodists believe him to be in Heaven.

Methodists affirm the Christian belief in life after death and the doctrine of "Justification by Faith". They do not believe in reincarnation or Purgatory.

Answer: Churches or Chapels

Initially, when Methodism was still a movement within the Anglican Church, their purpose-built buildings were known as Meeting Houses. As Methodists began to look to these Meeting Houses as their sole places of worship, they began to refer to them officially as Churches although the Non-Conformist term "Chapels" is prevalent in popular usage.

Answer: There has never been an official split.

That's right. The Methodist Church has never FORMALLY split from the Church of England. During John Wesley's lifetime he resisted any talk of forming a separate Church although many argue that some of his actions meant that separation became inevitable. Likewise, decisions taken by the Methodists after his death, as they began to meet more and more in their own Meeting Houses and less and less in the local Parish Church, resulted in an unofficial split.

It rather surprisingly remains the fact, however, that there is no formal moment when Methodism either walked away from or was expelled by the Anglican Church.

Answer: Drinking

Although the early Methodists were critical of the role alcohol played in poverty, the strong stance on drinking is a later phenomenon as Methodism was strongly impacted by the Nineteenth-Century Temperance Movement. Many Methodists "signed the pledge" although the official line now is moderation rather than abstinence. All Communion wine used today in UK Methodist Churches is non-alcoholic.

The Church is also well-known for taking a similarly strong stance on gambling.

Answer: West Africa

Missionaries were susceptible to many diseases in Africa, most notably malaria, but the amazing thing is that people kept coming forward to volunteer! Their faith is summed up in some words attributed to James Calvert (1813-1892). When asked if he was afraid that he would die overseas he replied, "We died before we went." (Source: "An Introduction to World Methodism" by Kenneth Cracknell and Susan White)