The ceremony could see closer co-operation between churches

The Anglican Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, was tearing up anti-Methodist statements made by his predecessors, to symbolise the reconciliation.

The ceremony, taking place at the Wesley Chapel and St Giles Cripplegate Church in the City of London, marks an agreement between the two churches for closer co-operation.

Rev Lesley Griffiths, minister of Wesley Chapel, said the allegations made against Methodists in the 18th century had created mistrust which continued to exist.

It's a very good example and I hope we will publicise this throughout the world because it has great symbolic forc Bishop of Londo

"The awful things included that Methodists were blasphemous, immoral, atheists and, the worst of all, enthusiastical - the sin of all sins in the 18th century," he said.

"But a lot of those allegations stick and sometimes quite deeply, and all need bringing to the surface."

The agreement between the two churches will allow ministers and priests from each to officiate at the other, even to preside over communion services.

Ideological differences

Bishop Chartres is hoping his dramatic gesture will give a message to Methodists and Anglicans around the world.

"Methodism and Anglicanism have been exported to the rest of the world - actually there are many more Methodists in the world than there are Anglicans.

"And I think symbolically therefore, this is something that can reverberate. It's a very good example and I hope we will publicise this throughout the world because it has great symbolic force."

Some differences between the two churches continue to exist.