How did the Methodist Church come by its name?

Answer 1

John Wesley and his followers methodically studied the Bible. They got their nickname from others.

Answer 2

John Wesley and his brother, Charles, and others were members of the "Holy Club" when they attended Oxford University. The term "methodist" was a slur, originally, that was thrown at them along with "Bible moths" and others. This was several years before either Wesley began their ministries in the Anglican church.

Why, or how, Wesley, et al., broke with the Anglicans to begin the movement now known as Methodists is something I don't recall at present. But that's the story in a nutshell: the Wesleys, who were known as Methodists, preached, and others followed their teachings, which were very close to the Bible, too.

Answer 3

The term "Methodist" was a pejorative term given to a small society of students at Oxford who met together between 1729 and 1735 for the purpose of mutual improvement.
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\Meth"o*dist\, n. [Cf. F. m['e]thodiste. See
{Method}.]
1. One who observes method. [Obs.]

2. One of an ancient school of physicians who rejected
observation and founded their practice on reasoning and
theory. --Sir W. Hamilton.

3. (Theol.) One of a sect of Christians, the outgrowth of a
small association called the ``Holy Club,'' formed at
Oxford University, A.D. 1729, of which the most
conspicuous members were John Wesley and his brother
Charles; -- originally so called from the methodical
strictness of members of the club in all religious duties.

4. A person of strict piety; one who lives in the exact
observance of religious duties; -- sometimes so called in
contempt or ridicule.

Answer 4

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http://christianforums.com/f365-wesleys-parish-methodist-nazarene.html

Answer 5

dude was on an acid trip