A report due out today will say that 1,885 allegations including sexual, physical, emotional and domestic abuse were made since the 50s.
In a quarter of cases church ministers or lay employees were identified as the alleged perpetrators whilst the police were called on just 61 occasions.
Six police investigations are currently ongoing, the report will say.
The Methodist Church has said the report will allow it to be open about the past and implement stronger safeguarding procedures.
Revd Dr Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Conference said: "On behalf of the Methodist Church in Britain I want to express an unreserved apology for the failure of its current and earlier processes fully to protect children, young people and adults from physical and sexual abuse inflicted by some ministers in Full Connexion and members of the Methodist Church.
"That abuse has been inflicted by some Methodists on children, young people and adults is and will remain a deep source of grief and shame to the church."
He added that it was "deeply regrettable" the Church had "not always listened properly to those abused" and not offered the proper care for victims.
"In respect of these things we have, as a Christian church, clearly failed to live in ways that glorify God and honour Christ.
"I am certain that the Methodist Conference will want to resolve to do all in its power to improve its systems to protect children, young people and adults from abuse within the life of the church and on church premises, and to review them diligently on a regular basis."
The review has taken three years to complete and was led by former Barnardo's deputy chief executive Jane Stacey.
All allegations including those written down and those just from memory, going back to 1950, were reviewed.
The Church of England has welcomed the review.
Bishop Paul Butler, the lead Anglican bishop on safeguarding, said: "We welcome the Methodist Church's statement outlining their future plans on safeguarding and we look forward to continuing to liaise with them closely as both churches roll out this vital work.
"We will want to see if there are further lessons for us to learn from the Methodist Church review.
"The Church of England has publically acknowledged and apologised for past safeguarding wrongs and is committed to making the Church a safer place for all.
"We are currently working on new training, legislation and guidance which includes our response to concerns and allegations.
"Our work is informed by the voices and experiences of survivors for whom we know the effects of abuse are lifelong.
"We recognise that we still have a long way to go but remain committed to ensuring the church is safe for all in the future."
Revd Gareth Powell, Assistant Secretary of the Methodist Church, speaking to Premier's Hannah Tooley: