The service of word and table remains one of the most important and one of the most debated elements of Methodism.  “How often should it be administered?” is the primary question.  It is a long-standing debate.  I am one of those who thinks it should be observed at least weekly; many others think quarterly is clearly sufficient. 
    Another issue faced by the early Methodists was where should the sacrament be observed.  John and Charles were known as itinerant, field preachers.  Was it proper to administer the elements in open fields or should that experience be reserved for church buildings?  Remember, John Wesley did not want his Methodists to leave their parish churches.
He constantly encouraged Methodists to attend their parish churches.  Yet circumstances sometimes forced him into alternative means.  Once when the clergy at Bristol refused to let Methodists participate at the Table, Charles administered the Sacrament at Kingswood.   
    According to Richard Heitzenrater: “John leased an unused Hugenot chapel in West Street.  He had preached there in August 1741 and for five Sundays had administered the Sacrament to the members.”  According to historians, a couple hundred Methodist visitors showed up each time he preached and administered the sacrament.  “Since it was a consecrated building, he felt comfortable acquiring it specifically for the administration of the Sacrament to Methodists from the London area.” 
The “West Street Chapel” became the site for the first ongoing Methodist administration of the Lord's Supper.  So many Methodists showed up for the service
on May 29, 1743,  that it took five to six hours to serve them all.  “I was a little afraid at first that my strength would not suffice for the business of the day …”  John
wrote in his Journal.  But when the service was over at 3 p.m., he found the strength to preach at 5 p.m. and even attend a meeting with the leaders of the Society and finally a band meeting.  “At ten at night, I was less weary than at six in the morning,” he wrote.