Wesley Memorial Methodist Church

The charming St. Michael’s Street leads you straight to the Wesley Memorial Church. You may not be familiar with the Wesley brothers, but they are the ones who founded the Methodist Church. In 1729, a handful of students began gathering in Oxford to pray, study, and express their Protestant faith through compassionate social actions. This was the “Holy Club,” led by the John and Charles Wesley brothers. And it is this club that evolved into the Methodist Church as we know it today, with over 80 million followers worldwide. They were called “Methodists” for “the methodical way in which they conducted their Christian faith.” Methodism emerged from this revival movement within the Church of England in the 18th century. It then spread throughout the British Empire, the United States, and other English colonies through vigorous missionary work. The first Methodist meetings took place in a room rented at Brasenose College, and eventually a church was built in 1818 in the decorated Gothic style, also known as English Gothic, which you are currently admiring. It is the work of Charles Bell, who is credited with around sixty Methodist churches in England. If you’re interested, you can visit the church for free and discover its magnificent stained glass windows as well as the entire history of Methodism through an interactive exhibition and multilingual guides.