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The '''Holy Club''' was a 1729 established organisation at Christ Church, Oxford, established by brothers [[John Wesley|John]] and [[Charles Wesley]], who later contributed to the formation of the [[Methodist Church]].<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref><ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/269746/Holy-Club| title = Holy Club|publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref><ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref>

The '''Holy Club''' was a 1729 established organisation at Christ Church, Oxford, established by brothers [[John Wesley|John]] and [[Charles Wesley]], who later contributed to the formation of the [[Methodist Church]].<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref><ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/269746/Holy-Club| title = Holy Club|publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref><ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref>

Jeering college students scoffed at these "Methodists" who tried to systematically serve [[Holy Trinity|God]] every hour of the day.<ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref> They set aside time for [[Prayer in Christianity|praying]], examining their spiritual lives, studying the [[Holy Bible]], and meeting together.<ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref> In addition, they took food to poor families, visited lonely people in prison, and taught orphans how to read.<ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref> Members of the organization celebrated [[Holy Communion]] frequently and [[fasting|fasted]] on Wednesdays and Fridays until 3 P.M.<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref><ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/269746/Holy-Club| title = Holy Club|publisher = Encyclopædia Britannica|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref> Fellows of the Holy Club also studied and discussed the ''[[Novum Testamentum Graece]]'' as well as the [[Classics]].<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref> Critics of the Holy Club on the Oxford Campus said: {{cquote|

Jeering college students scoffed at these "Methodists" who tried to systematically serve [[Holy Trinity|God]] every hour of the day.<ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref> They set aside time for [[Prayer in Christianity|praying]], examining their spiritual lives, studying the [[Holy Bible]], and meeting together.<ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref> In addition, they took food to poor families, visited lonely people in prison, and taught orphans how to read.<ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref> Members of the organization celebrated [[Holy Communion]] frequently and [[fasting|fasted]] on Wednesdays and Fridays until 3 P.M.<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/><ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica-Holy Club"/> Fellows of the Holy Club also studied and discussed the ''[[Novum Testamentum Graece]]'' as well as the [[Classics]].<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/> Critics of the Holy Club on the Oxford Campus said: {{cquote|

:By rule they eat, by rule they drink,

:By rule they eat, by rule they drink,

:By rule do all things but think.

:By rule do all things but think.

:Method alone must guide 'em all

:Method alone must guide 'em all

:When themselves "Methodists" they call.<ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref>}}

:When themselves "Methodists" they call.<ref name="Keysor-Holy Club">{{cite book |last=Keysor|first=Charles W.|title=Our Methodist Heritage|year=1996|publisher=Good News|page=12|isbn=0912692278}}</ref>}}

This organisation is often said to be the root of the influential [[Methodist Church]].<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>  

This organisation is often said to be the root of the influential [[Methodist Church]].<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>  

== Notable personalities ==

== Notable personalities ==

The individuals listed below are notable members of the Holy Club who distinguished themselves later in life.

The individuals listed below are notable members of the Holy Club who distinguished themselves later in life.

*[[John Wesley]] - founder of the [[Methodist Church]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>

*[[John Wesley]] - founder of the [[Methodist Church]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>

*[[Charles Wesley]] - famous [[hymn]] writer<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>

*[[Charles Wesley]] - famous [[hymn]] writer<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>

*John Gambold - [[bishop]] of the [[Moravian Church]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>

*John Gambold - [[bishop]] of the [[Moravian Church]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>

*John Clayton - distinguished [[Anglican]] churchman<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>

*John Clayton - distinguished [[Anglican]] churchman<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>

*[[James Hervey]] - noted religious writer<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>

*[[James Hervey]] - noted religious writer<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>

*[[Benjamin Ingham]] - famous [[Evangelism|evangelist]] in [[Yorkshire]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>

*[[Benjamin Ingham]] - famous [[Evangelism|evangelist]] in [[Yorkshire]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>

*Thomas Brougham - secretary of the [[Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>  

*Thomas Brougham - secretary of the [[Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>  

*[[George Whitefield]] - famous clergyman associated both with the [[First Great Awakening]] in the [[United States]] and the [[Holiness movement|Evangelical Revival]] in [[England]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club">{{cite web|url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1983/issue2/216.html| title = Holy Club|publisher = Christianity Today|accessdate = 2009-05-28}}</ref>

*[[George Whitefield]] - famous clergyman associated both with the [[First Great Awakening]] in the [[United States]] and the [[Holiness movement|Evangelical Revival]] in [[England]]<ref name="Christianity-Holy Club"/>

== References ==

== References ==