The Methodist Church celebrates the 300th anniversary of the birth of its founder John Wesley tomorrow at a national service in Lincoln.
Christian leaders will gather in the Anglican Cathedral, not far from Wesley's home town of Epworth, to commemorate his life and render some of the hymns for which he and his brother Charles are famous.
Wesley would no doubt be delighted that many of the values he espoused, such as personal holiness and the social gospel, remain at the heart of Methodism.
But overshadowing the celebrations is the parlous state of the institution, which is struggling with declining numbers, financial difficulties and plunging morale.
The Church's plight was highlighted last month when one of its most respected ministers, the Rev Howard Mellor, the principal of Cliff College, warned that Methodism in this country has five years to reform or die.
There are currently 327,000 members in Britain, about a third of the number at Methodism's peak almost 100 years ago.
Although many Methodists see signs of hope in thriving youth clubs and social projects, the figure represents a decline of about seven per cent in the past three years.
Congregations average 55 people per church or chapel, of which there are now 6,300.
Moreover, the Church lacks charismatic figures of the stature of the late Lord Soper. It aims to address this by breaking 200 years of tradition and appointing a national general secretary, alongside the annually elected president, to raise its profile.
In contrast, Methodism worldwide is relatively healthy; membership of Methodist and related United Churches linked to the World Methodist Council is 33 million. It is growing fast in Africa (Nelson Mandela is one) and Asia.
In the United States, where President George Bush is the most prominent adherent, it is the second largest denomination, with 8.4 million members.
But much of the social inequality and ecclesiastical excess which provided the initial impetus for Methodism in 19th-century Britain have disappeared, and the Church in this country is still searching for a new role.
As pressure grows on resources, Methodists are in long-term discussions with the Church of England over a closer partnership.
Previous efforts to merge have foundered and few believe the latest effort, to be debated by the Methodist conference in north Wales later this month, has a much greater chance of success.
Among the theological obstacles is that Methodists have been consecrating women as bishops for decades.
Even if such problems can be overcome, any marriage between a Free Church rooted in the radicalism of the Tolpuddle Martyrs and a Church still wedded to the Establishment is likely to be turbulent.
So while Methodists celebrate the continuing influence of Wesley this week, the future of the Church he bequeathed remains less certain.