In Our Time: Religion · BBC Radio 4

John Wesley and Methodism

December 10, 2020·52 min·4 clips
John Wesley's childhood was haunted by a ghost named Old Geoffrey that rapped on beds and objected to King George I.
This episode explores the life of John Wesley and the rise of Methodism, discussing his troubled childhood, the formation of the Holy Club at Oxford, key figures like George Whitefield, theological debates, and the movement's global spread. Experts analyze Methodism's impact on society, including its role in abolitionism and trade unions.

As heard by us

A clear account of Wesley, revival, and the Arminian-Calvinist split that shaped Methodism.

John Wesley is presented as a methodical religious reformer whose ideas helped define Methodism, and the account stays anchored in open-air preaching in Britain and the insistence on continued self-monitoring after conversion.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If you want the theology behind Methodism, this is your map.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
Listen to the show on