These are mini-profiles of the United Methodist or Methodist churches in countries that belong to the European Union. Membership figures come from the World Methodist Council's Handbook of Information:

UNITED KINGDOM - This is the birthplace of Methodism. The work of John and Charles Wesley led directly to the founding of the church in the 18th century. The current body was formed in 1932 and includes England, Scotland and Wales. The British Methodist Church has 380,269 official members but claims a community of more than 1.2 million.

IRELAND - The Irish Methodist Church includes both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. With about 234 churches, it has more than 30,000 members and serves a community double that size. Methodists have been actively involved in the peace process in Northern Ireland.

GERMANY - The beginnings of what is now the United Methodist Central Conference in Germany included connections with the British Methodist, American Methodist, Evangelical and United Brethren churches. The reunification of Germany in 1990 allowed the East and West Germany central conferences to unite in 1992. With membership of 66,000 and a constituency of 120,000, the church makes its headquarters in Frankfort.

AUSTRIA - Known as "Evangelisch-Methodistiische-Kirche," the United Methodist Church in Austria began in 1876 in Vienna. It was officially recognized by the government as a legitimate religion in 1951. Membership stands at 700, serving a community of 1,500.

SWEDEN - A British Methodist preacher was sent to Stockholm in 1826 and a church erected in 1840. But because of opposition from the state church, the work ended in 1842. The first missionary from the American Methodist Missionary Society arrived in 1854. The Swedish Annual Conference, which now includes 4,200 members, was formed in 1876.

FINLAND - The beginnings of the Finnish church were tied both to Sweden and to Russia. It became a separate annual conference in 1911. The United Methodist Church in Finland now has more than 1,200 members.

DENMARK - Two Danish evangelists, converted to Methodism in New York, joined forces in Denmark in the mid-19th century. The first church was erected in Copenhagen in 1866. The United Methodist Annual Conference in Denmark, constituted in 1911, now has nearly 1,500 members and serves a community twice that size.

ITALY - British Methodists sent the first missionaries in 1859, followed by American Methodists in 1870. The two branches united in 1946 and became autonomous in 1962. It has been federated with the Waldensian Church since 1979. Membership is at 3,700.

PORTUGAL - Two English laymen established the foundation of Methodism in the mid-1800s. The first church was built in 1868. Autonomous since 1996, the Portuguese Methodist Church is a member of the World Methodist Council and Methodist European Council. Membership is around 1,500.

SPAIN - English missionaries started work in Spain at several points during the 19th century, with the first Methodist church organized in Barcelona in 1869. But there was little religious freedom until after dictator Francisco Franco's death in 1978. Methodism was integrated into the already existing Evangelical Church of Spain in 1955. Its membership stands at 3,000.

FRANCE - Methodism got its start in France in 1791, and since then it has involved various mergers and associations. Today, 11 congregations in Alsace-Lorraine and three in the southwest are attached to the United Methodist Church, serving a constituency of about 1,600.

May 10, 1999