Igreja Evangélica Metodista Portuguesa

Today, our prayer journey takes us to the Iberian Peninsula, where the Igreja Evangélica Metodista Portuguesa — the Portuguese Evangelical Methodist Church — faithfully carries the gospel in one of Europe’s oldest nations.

The origin of the Methodist Church in Portugal arose from the witness of two English laymen, Thomas Chegwin in 1854 and James Cassels ten years later, who initiated small groups for prayer and Bible study following the pattern established by John Wesley and his class system. In 1868, Portugal’s first Methodist chapel was built in Vila Nova de Gaia, and within a few years the church had launched an educational crusade against widespread illiteracy, opening primary schools across the region. Between 1920 and 1940, the church experienced its most fruitful period of expansion, recruiting members from all social classes and confirming itself as one of the most dynamic and prestigious evangelical churches in the country. For many years the church functioned as a district of the British Methodist Church, and it was not until 1996 that it became fully autonomous, electing its own bishop and adopting its current name.

The IEMP is a relatively small denomination in terms of numbers, but its impact on Portuguese society is significant. The church consists of approximately 1,000 baptized members and a wider community of over 2,000 people served through its ministries. They gather in 12 main congregations and various mission points, stretching from Porto in the north to Lisbon and down to the Algarve, under the leadership of Bishop José Sifredo Teixeira.

In 2019, World Methodist Evangelism was honored to provide leadership training for the church in Porto, deepening the bonds of our shared Wesleyan family.

A Prayer

Gracious God, we give You thanks for the Igreja Evangélica Metodista Portuguesa and for the long, faithful story of Your people in Portugal. We remember those first small gatherings for prayer and Bible study, and we marvel at how You have sustained and grown Your church across more than 170 years. Strengthen all who lead, preach, and serve. May the church’s witness in an increasingly secular Portugal be marked by grace, courage, and joy. Amen.