Methodism Trivia
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50 free Methodism trivia questions with answers — trivia quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
This Methodism trivia quiz follows the Methodist movement from the Oxford Holy Club of the 1730s to the Global Methodist Church of 2022. It covers John Wesley's 'heart strangely warmed' at Aldersgate, his brother Charles's hymns, George Whitefield's open-air preaching and the Calvinist split, the 1784 ordinations that created American Methodism, Francis Asbury and the Baltimore Christmas Conference, the camp meetings and circuit riders, and the splits and mergers that produced today's denominations. Doctrine rounds ask about Arminian free will, entire sanctification, the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, the two sacraments, lovefeasts, watchnight services and Covenant renewal. There are also questions on Methodism around the world, from Fiji and Tonga to South Korea. Early rounds suit a church youth group; later rounds reward seminary-level knowledge. Every answer was checked against encyclopaedia entries before publishing.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Whose life and teachings are the origin of Methodism?
John Wesley
His brother Charles and George Whitefield were also key early leaders.
Q 02Within which established body did Methodism begin as a revival movement?
The Anglicans (Church of England)
It only became a separate denomination after Wesley's death.
Q 03Why were early members called 'Methodists'?
Their methodical faith practice
Fellow Oxford students mocked the way the Holy Club used 'rule' and 'method' in religious affairs.
Q 04Roughly how many Methodist adherents are there worldwide today?
50 million
Most Methodist denominations belong to the World Methodist Council.
Q 05At which university did the Wesley brothers found the 'Holy Club'?
Oxford
John was a fellow and later a lecturer at Lincoln College.
Q 06Which colony's founder invited the Wesleys to America in 1735?
Georgia
General James Oglethorpe wanted them as ministers to colonists and missionaries to Native Americans; the mission failed.
Q 07Where did the founder feel his 'heart strangely warmed' on 24 May 1738?
Aldersgate
It happened at a Moravian service; Methodists mark the anniversary as Aldersgate Day.
Q 08Peter Boehler, who helped the Wesleys after their failed American mission, belonged to which group?
The Moravians
Wesley left the Moravians the following year to found the Methodist Societies of England.
Q 09On which London street is Wesley's Chapel, a focal point of world Methodism?
City Road
It stands near Aldersgate, the site of Wesley's conversion.
Q 10Which Dutch theologian's rejection of predestination shaped Wesley's thinking?
Jacobus Arminius
Wesleyan Methodists hold that Christ died for all and salvation is available to everyone.
Q 11Which early Methodist leader held Calvinist views and famously preached in the open air?
George Whitefield
His theological rift with Wesley strained but did not end their friendship.
Q 12Which noblewoman was a notable Calvinistic Methodist?
Selina Hastings
Howell Harris was another leading Calvinistic Methodist of the era.
Q 13In which town was Wesley nearly murdered by a mob in 1743?
Wednesbury
William Hogarth also attacked Methodists in print as 'enthusiasts' full of fanaticism.
Q 14What were the intimate small groups within early Methodist societies called?
Q 21How does Wesleyan Methodism uniquely define sin?
A voluntary breach of a known law of God
Involuntary infirmities like forgetfulness are not counted as sin 'properly so called'.
Q 22Which theologian proposed the 'Wesleyan Quadrilateral'?
Albert Outler
It is taught to Methodist clergy as the primary approach to interpreting Scripture.
Q 23What did Wesley abridge to create Methodism's doctrinal standard?
The Thirty-nine Articles
He removed the Church of England document's Calvinist features.
Classes
Members confessed their sins to one another and built each other up.
Q 15Why did Wesley ordain preachers for America in 1784?
A shortage of priests after the Revolution
The Church of England held that only bishops could ordain, so this precipitated the split.
Q 16Who founded the Methodist Episcopal Church at the 1784 Christmas Conference?
Francis Asbury
Coke ordained him deacon, elder and bishop on three successive days.
Q 17In which city was the 1784 Christmas Conference held?
Baltimore
Wesley had sent Thomas Coke to America as superintendent that year.
Q 18Who is known as Methodism's systematic theologian?
John William Fletcher
He was Wesley's chosen successor but died before him.
Q 19What did Wesley call 'the grand depositum' of the Methodist faith?
Entire sanctification
He taught that spreading this doctrine was the reason God raised up the Methodists.
Q 20What motto do Methodists traditionally promote?
Holiness unto the Lord
It reflects the emphasis on the second work of grace.
Q 24How many sacraments do Methodists recognise as instituted by Christ?
Two
They are Baptism and Holy Communion, also called the Lord's Supper.
Q 25How often was the Methodist lovefeast traditionally held?
Quarterly
Wesley taught that it was an apostolic ordinance.
Q 26On which night do Methodists traditionally hold the watchnight Covenant Renewal service?
New Year's Eve
In Britain it is often held on the first Sunday of the year instead.
Q 27What did Wesley call his 1784 revision of the Book of Common Prayer for America?
The Sunday Service of the Methodists
Today's United Methodist liturgy relies on The United Methodist Hymnal and Book of Worship.
Q 28Which weekly observance was part of traditional Methodist discipline?
The Friday fast
Other standards included sobriety, no gambling and regular class attendance.
Q 29What did the first American Methodist bishop call camp meetings?
Our harvest seasons
At an 1805 camp meeting in Dover, 1,100 people were reported to have received the new birth.
Q 30Which early Methodist evangelist said 'justification would have ended with me had I refused to be holy'?
Phoebe Palmer
The quote sums up the Methodist emphasis on pursuing holiness after the new birth.