The Methodists derive their roots from the work of John and Charles Wesley. The Wesley brothers and associate Whitefield travelled widely preaching to considerable crowds attracting many of the working class. By 1738 they had organised small groups within the Church of England for religious sharing, bible study, prayer and preaching. Their emphasis was 'primarily on practical religion and not dogmatic' (WEBER 1999). This movement had spread throughout England, Ireland, Wales and further abroad.

The division between the Church of England and John Wesley heightened in 1738 when Church of England congregations started banning John Wesley from their pulpits. In order to unite the many small groups, in 1743 John and Charles Wesley in 1743

The Methodists became an established denomination. They had the ability to deliver sacraments, ordain ministers, and provide all the services required. By 1834 they established the first independent theological school for the Methodists.

At no time did John Wesley personally break ties with the Church of England, maintaining his ordination and devotion to the Church of England, and he expected the "united societies" to "attend Anglican services and sacraments" (Dowley 1990:453). Even though his ministry grew and he had to employ laymen to preach and to assist, he never referred to them as "ministers and he refused them the authority to administer the sacraments" (Shelley 1995:339)

The Plan of Pacification allowed the churches (in England) to perform the Lord's Supper, baptism and burial of the dead and can be seen as the spiritual breakaway from the Church of England . It gave the Methodist churches and preachers the authority that once belonged only to the Church of England. It also established the right for individual churches to make their own decisions, due to the enlightenment, and led to an increase in authority for the layman and a lesser emphasis on the authority of the church.

, issued "General Rules" and became known as the "United Societies" (Dowley 1990:455). In 1744 John Wesley established "bands" and "class meetings" to preserve the fellowship within these "United Societies". During this conference standards for doctrine, liturgy and discipline were also adopted.

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Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)