Charles & John Wesley were both students at Oxford and in 1726 John was elected Fellow of Lincoln College.

Charles, who had been a bit of a lad at the start of his university career, became more serious about his faith, and started a small group  nicknamed ‘The Holy Club’, which met for prayer and Bible study. Later John        became a leading light in the group and in particular stressed the need for combining a deep inward faith with practical service to those in need.

The scholars used to go into the town and the local    prison to do charitable work and visit the sick.  Other students had a variety of mocking nicknames for the group, including ‘Bible Moths’, ‘Enthusiasts’, and   ‘Supererogationists’, {because they did more than most thought was necessary to be a good Christian), but the one that stuck was ‘METHODISTS’.

It was in the Holy Club that the Wesley brothers met George Whitefield, who became an important part of the Methodist movement.

From: History (The Methodist Church in Britain}.