The Methodist Church in Ireland

When John Wesley first sailed to Ireland in 1747, he found 280 Methodists already gathered in Dublin! The movement had begun before he ever stepped onto Irish soil.

That Methodist society was formed by ordinary lay people who simply would not keep quiet about Jesus. And they didn’t stay put. They emigrated, and they carried their faith with them. They helped plant Methodism in America and founded it in Newfoundland. The movement that started as a handful of believers on one island helped seed a global family that now spans the world.

The Methodist Church in Ireland represents a tight-knit community of approximately 55,000 people, across roughly 200 congregations. They operate across two completely distinct political jurisdictions: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In a land historically marked by deep social, political, and religious divisions, this single “Connexion” of churches has quietly chosen to stand together as one unified body.

Like many churches across Europe, Irish Methodists face the challenge of sharing the gospel in an increasingly secular culture. Yet they continue to invest in discipleship, evangelism, church life, and community engagement.

They are leaning heavily into what they call “Living Wholeheartedly” by revitalizing small group fellowships, engaging youth in God’s mission, and offering a distinctively Wesleyan voice of grace in a polarized world.

Its five city missions in Dublin, Belfast, Derry, and Newtownabbey have quietly cared for the elderly, the homeless, and the vulnerable for generations. And in recent years its congregations have grown, in part, by welcoming newcomers from around the world. Recent years have brought significant numbers of refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants to Ireland, creating new opportunities for ministry and new expressions of Methodist community.

Small island. Long reach. That’s what we’re praying for.

A Prayer For The Methodist Church in Ireland

Father, we thank You for the Methodist Church in Ireland. For nearly three centuries of faithful witness on one small island, and for the long reach of that witness across the world. Grant fresh vision and courage for every minister, lay leader, and congregation across Ireland. As they minister across complex political borders and navigate changing cultural tides, anchor them deeply in Your love. Multiply the impact of their “societies” and small groups. May they experience a renewed outpouring of Your Holy Spirit that fuels creative evangelism, robust youth ministries, and healing in every community they touch. Keep them fiercely unified, wholeheartedly devoted to Jesus, and boldly expectant of the ways You want to transform Ireland through their witness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.