SY6990 : The United Church, South Street
taken 11 years ago, near to Dorchester, Dorset, England
Methodism began as a revival movement within the Church of England in the 18th century. Lead by the brothers John and Charles Wesley, it taught a methodical interpretation of Protestantism that stressed salvation was available for all. It separated from the established church in the 1790s but within 30 years it had itself split into Primitive and Wesleyan branches. Gradually these two forms converged until a formal reunification was achieved in 1932. Today it has about 80 million adherents worldwide.
The United Reformed Church has about 1500 churches and 46,000 members in Great Britain. They began when the English Presbyterian Church merged with the Congregational Churches of England and Wales in 1972. The Church of Christ joined in 1981 and the Scottish Congregationalists in 1982. Their own web site states that they “delight in the Bible, do not fear change and take everyone's insight and contribution seriously”.