THE METHODIST CHURCH The Methodist Society was founded by the Rev. John Wesley in 1739. It is constituted in Ireland under the Methodist Church in Ireland Acts Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State, 1928). The ministers are itinerant, five years being the longest period they can remain in any one circuit under ordinary circumstances. One, two or more are appointed to a circuit which comprises a number of congregations and they are assisted by lay preachers, leaders and prayer leaders. Out of these, with representatives elected By the Societies is formed the Leaders Meeting, at which ministers attend, one of them , called the Superintendent presiding, and this Board manages the affairs of the local society. The Quarterly meeting composed of the same officials together with the Trustees etc. manages the affairs of the Circuit. A number of Circuits forms a District. The Conference meets annually and is the supreme ecclesiastical court. It consists of 150 ministers and 150 Laymen, the President of the British Conference also being the President of the Irish one during its sessions. The number of Ministers in Great Britain is 2,562. The number in Ireland is 248. At the census if 1826 the number of people in Ireland who returned themselves as Methodists was 60, 217. The Primitive Wesleyan Methodist Society (English) and the Methodist new Connexion are now united with the Wesleyan Methodist Society in Ireland forming the Methodist Church of Ireland