One of the early Methodist bases for works of piety and mercy was the Foundery in London . The main room of the building was large enough to seat 1500 people.
At one time, the Foundery had been a place for casting cannon. After a serious explosion in 1716, the weapons operation moved to Woolwich. The Foundery remained damaged and unused until 1738 when John Wesley either rented or purchased it. He organized the Methodist Society there.
In addition to religious services, other ministries occurred on the premises such as a school for children and the dispensing of money from a loan fund for poor people to help prevent them from paying exhorbitant interest to others.
The Foundery’s ministry carried on until 1779. Of its ending Wesley wrote, "What hath God wrought there for 40 years!"