Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother Charles was instrumental in writing much of the hymnody of the Methodist Church. George Whitefield, another significant leader in the movement, was known for his unorthodox ministry of itinerant open-air preaching. Wesley, along with his brother founded a holy club while they were at Oxford, where John was a professor. The holy club met weekly and they systematically set about living a holy life. They were branded as "Methodist" by students at Oxford who derided the methodical way they ordered their lives. Wesley took the attempted mockery and turned it into a title of honor.
Initially Whitefield and the Wesleys merely sought reform, by way of a return to the gospel, within the Church of England, but the movement spread with revival and soon a significant number of Anglican clergy became known as Methodists in the mid-18th century.
Methodism arrived in South Africa with British soldiers in 1806 but the mission was launched by Barnabas Shaw who reached the Cape in 1816 and William Shaw (unrelated) who accompanied the British settlers of 1820. Barnabas Shaw established a mission among the Khoi at Leliefontein in Namaqualand and colleagues ventured across the Orange River into present-day Namibia and what are now the northern provinces of South Africa. William Shaw established Methodism throughout the British settlement in Albany and rapidly planted a chain of mission stations between the Cape Colony and Natal. In the late nineteenth century mission work was extended into the gold-mining area in Gauteng and north through modern Limpopo into Zimbabwe. Six missionary districts of the Wesleyan Methodist church became an affiliated Conference in 1883. An independent Conference was constituted in 1927 and enlarged in 1931 to include the Transvaal Missionary District of the British Conference and the small Primitive Methodist Mission. The Connexion operates today in six countries – Botswana, Lesotho, Mocambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. Khoi and African helpers worked with the missionaries from early days but an indigenous ordained ministry only came into being in the late 1860's.
The work and witness of indigenous ministers, evangelists and laity established Methodism firmly in many parts of South Africa, but leadership remained firmly in white hands. This was an important factor in a number of schisms which resulted in such bodies as the Ethiopian Church and the South African branch of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The last major schism took place in 1978 when the Methodist Church of Southern Africa was banned in the Transkei homeland and replaced by the United Methodist Church of S A. Most ministers and members returned to the MCSA when the ban was lifted in 1988.
A building designed for public worship by members of the Methodist community.
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Addington Methodist Church: 1939. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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African Methodist Episcopal Church: 1950. Atteridgeville, Gauteng
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African Methodist Episcopal Church: 1933. Alexandra, Johannesburg, Gauteng 
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Centenary Methodist Church: 1969. Richmond Hill, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape 
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Central Methodist Church: 1925. Benoni, Gauteng
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Central Methodist Mission: 1967. Johannesburg, Gauteng 
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Church of the Good Shepherd: 1949. Muizenberg, Western Cape
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Clifton Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1897. Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng 
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Clumber Methodist Church: 1867. Bathurst, Eastern Cape 
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Clumber Methodist Church School: 1900s. Bathurst, Eastern Cape 
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Commemoration Methodist Church: 1845. Makhanda (Grahamstown), Eastern Cape 
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Dutch Wesleyan Church: pre-1908. Cape Town, Western Cape
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Germiston Central Methodist Church: 1951. Germiston, Gauteng 
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Hill Organ - Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1832. Makhanda (Grahamstown), Eastern Cape 
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Hilton Methodist Church: 1903. Hilton Farm, Whittlesea, Eastern Cape 
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Holy Trinity Methodist Church: 1871-1875 : 1894. Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape
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Igreja Metodista Wesleyana: 1967. Maputo, Mozambique
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Independent Methodist Church of Africa: 1930. Mpukane Circuit, Nqamakwe, Butterworth, Eastern Cape
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Independent Methodist Church of Africa: 2007. Mpukane Circuit, Nqamakwe, Butterworth, Eastern Cape
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Kidwell Memorial Church - Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1914. Jamestown, Eastern Cape 
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Melville Methodist Church: n.d.. Melville, Johannesburg, Gauteng
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Methodist Church: 1861. Somerset West, Western Cape 
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Methodist Church: c1955. Volksrust, Mpumalanga
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Methodist Church: 1955. Standerton, Mpumalanga
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Methodist Church: n.d.. KwaMaqoma (Fort Beaufort), Eastern Cape
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Methodist Church: 1891. Steytlerville, Eastern Cape
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Methodist Church: n.d.. uMlazi, KwaZulu-Natal
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Methodist Church: 1883. Molteno, Eastern Cape 
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Methodist Church: 1910. Kloof, KwaZulu-Natal 
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Methodist Church: n.d.. Willowmore, Eastern Cape
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Methodist Church: 1895. Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal
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Methodist Church: 1895 : 1903. Heidelberg, Gauteng
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Methodist Church: 1930. Stutterheim, Eastern Cape 
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Methodist Church: 1904. Wesley, Eastern Cape 
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Methodist Church: 1971. Mbombela (Nelspruit), Mpumalanga 
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Methodist Church: 1850-1851. Wynberg, Western Cape
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Methodist Church: 1897. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape
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Methodist Church: 1913. Mashishing (Lydenburg), Mpumalanga
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Methodist Church: 1885. Barkly East, Eastern Cape 
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Methodist Church: n.d.. Worcester, Western Cape
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Methodist Church: 1879. Dordrecht, Eastern Cape 
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Methodist Church: n.d.. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Methodist Church: n.d.. Leliefontein, Northern Cape
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Methodist Church: n.d.. Velddrif, Western Cape
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Methodist Church: 1906. Mossel Bay, Western Cape
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Methodist Church: 1904. Woodstock, Western Cape 
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Methodist Church: n.d.. eNtokozweni (Machadodorp), Mpumalanga
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Methodist Church: late 1890s. Middelburg, Eastern Cape
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Methodist Church: n.d.. Aliwal North, Eastern Cape
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Methodist Church: 1892-1893. Knysna, Western Cape 
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Methodist Church: c1870. McGregor, Western Cape 
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Methodist Church: c1900. Engcobo, Eastern Cape 
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Methodist Church: 1847; 1930. Sir Lowry's Pass Village, Western Cape 
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Methodist Church: 1906. Plumstead, Cape Town, Western Cape
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Methodist Church: n.d.. Rosebank, Cape Town, Western Cape
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Methodist Church: 1850. Salem, Eastern Cape 
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Methodist Church: 1877. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Methodist Church - AGS: 1889. Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal
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Methodist Church, cemetery and ringwall: 1832. Bathurst, Eastern Cape 
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Methodist Church, Metropolitan: 1876. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape 
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Metropolitan Methodist Church: 1876. Central, Cape Town, Western Cape 
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Pretoria West Methodist Church: 1935. Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng 
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Rokeby Park Methodist Church: 1884. Bathurst, Eastern Cape 
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Rosebank Methodist Church: n.d.. Rosebank, Cape Town, Western Cape
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Settler Church - Methodist: 1823. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape 
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Settler Church - Methodist: 1827 : 1939. Port Alfred, Eastern Cape 
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Shaw Methodist Church: 1905. Makhanda (Grahamstown), Eastern Cape 
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Shaw Park Methodist Church: 1864. Bathurst, Eastern Cape 
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Shrewsbury Methodist Church: c1860. Benton, Eastern Cape 
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St John's Methodist Church: 1894 : 2011. Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape
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St John's Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1902. Kroonstad, Free State
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St Saviour Methodist Church: 1892 : 1913. Oudtshoorn, Western Cape 
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Trinity Methodist Church: 1880s. Colesberg, Northern Cape
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Trinity Methodist Church: 1906. Kimberley, Northern Cape 
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Trinity Methodist Church: 1904. East London, Eastern Cape
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Trinity Wesleyan Church: 1927. Bloemfontein, Free State 
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Valley Methodist: pre 1993. Villieria, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng 
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Waterloo Methodist Church: 1875. East London, Eastern Cape
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Wesleyan Church: pre-1905. Mahikeng, North West
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Wesleyan Church: 1905. Potchefstroom, North West
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Wesleyan Church: 1800s : 1894. District Six, Cape Town, Western Cape 
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Wesleyan Church: 1903. Jeppestown, Johannesburg, Gauteng
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Wesleyan Church: 1904. Claremont, Cape Town, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Church: c1901. Kearsney, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church: 1894. Fordsburg, Johannesburg, Gauteng
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Wesleyan Church: pre-1909. Boksburg, Gauteng
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Wesleyan Church: 1876. Stellenbosch, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Church: 1867. Robertson, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Church: pre-1910. Pretoria West, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng
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Wesleyan Church: 1882. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church: 1896. Greyville, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church: 1899. Rosebank, Cape Town, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Church: 1898. Muizenberg, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Church: c1907. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church: 1875. Bloemfontein, Free State
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Wesleyan Church: 1850-1851. Wynberg, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Church: 1897. Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Church: 1922. Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church: 1868. Bloemfontein, Free State 
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Wesleyan Church: 1880. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church: 1920. Bellair, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church, Bellair: 1919. Bellair, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church, modified design: 1909. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Church, South End: 1882. Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape
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Wesleyan Church, Swartruggens: 1882. Swartruggens, North West
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Wesleyan Church, Umbilo Rd, modifying STOTT & KIRKBY's plan: 1909. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: n.d.. Central, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1893. Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1913-1914. Makhanda (Grahamstown), Eastern Cape 
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1900 [?]. Maitland, Cape Town, Western Cape 
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1882. Heilbron, Free State
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: n.d.. Cathcart, Eastern Cape
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1904 : 1968. Beaconsfield, Kimberley, Northern Cape 
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1904. Klipplaat, Eastern Cape
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1932. Langa, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Methodist Church: 1882. Aberdeen, Eastern Cape
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Wesleyan Methodist Church - Kidwell Memorial Church: 1914. Jamestown, Eastern Cape 
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Wesleyan Methodist Church - Second: pre-1901. Central, Tshwane (Pretoria), Gauteng
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Wesleyan Methodist Church and Hall: n.d. : 1893 : 1901 : 1905. Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Methodist Church Hall: 1935. Newton Park, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape
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Wesleyan Methodist Church hall: 1930. Woodstock, Western Cape
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Wesleyan Methodist Church, parsonage: 1926. uMkomaas, KwaZulu-Natal
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Wesleyan Methodist Mission Church: n.d.. Lesseyton, Eastern Cape
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