Preface; 1. Religion and politics: Methodism and the English party system; 2. 'The father of Methodism': John Wesley and the position of Methodism in the church; 3. Liberal developments and the Methodist new connexion, 1791–7; 4. Revivals and reaction: methodism from 1797 to 1827; 5. 'The pope of Methodism': the primacy and policy of Jabez Bunting; 6. Politics and the laity: opposition to the Conference party, 1827–46; 7. The 'Wesleyan reaction' breaks up: the 'Wesleyan reform' agitation, 1846–51; 8. Methodism in 1851: its political types; Select bibliography; Index.