Circuit Life

The Methodist tradition in Britain from its origins in the eighteenth century has promoted a disciplined way of following Jesus, an emphasis on community and a concern for the wider world.  Local churches are grouped into ‘Circuits’ – and this is the website of the Enfield Circuit, eight churches in the London Borough of Enfield and Hertfordshire Borough of Broxbourne plus the SPACE project.

Find out more through this website, or through a local church.  The national Methodist website explains more about the Methodist Church and gives details of its founding and history; or visit the regional website for London District.

The Methodist Church in Britain is still organised in a methodical way using many of the structures introduced by its founder, John Wesley.

However, the Church is quite pragmatic, and is willing to make changes where they seem desirable.  Structures are there to enable decision making that takes account of all concerns and views within the Church.  No one is given supreme authority – consultation is vital.  At the same time, churches cannot simply arrange their own affairs, but have some shared disciplines and ways of working.

The local church: The local church is the congregational place of worship, where Methodist members and friends are nurtured.

The circuit: A circuit is a group of local churches, served by a team of local preachers and ministers including the superintendent minister.

The district: The district serves a geographical group of circuits and is led by the district chair.

The Connexion: Methodists are linked together in a ‘Connexion’ of churches, circuits and districts.

The Conference: The annual Methodist Conference meets in different places and is the supreme decision making body of the Church. Annually at the Conference a new President and Vice-President are appointed to preside over that Conference and spend the year travelling around the Connexion, and abroad representing the Methodist Church.