Everything about Charles Wesley totally explained
Charles Wesley (
18 December 1707 -
29 March 1788) was a leader of the
Methodist movement, the younger brother of
John Wesley. Despite their closeness, Charles and his brother didn't always agree on questions relating to their beliefs. In particular, Charles was strongly opposed to the idea of a breach with the
Church of England into which they'd been ordained. Charles Wesley is chiefly remembered for the many
hymns he wrote. He founded Wesley Chapel in the village of
Brayton, which is just south of
Selby. His house, located nearby, can still be visited today.
Biography
Charles Wesley was the son of
Susanna Wesley and
Samuel Wesley. Like his brother John, Charles Wesley was born in
Epworth,
Lincolnshire,
England, where their father was rector. He was educated at
Westminster School and
Christ Church, Oxford, where his brother had also studied, and formed the "Oxford Methodist" group among his fellow students in 1727 which his elder brother, John joined in
1729 soon becoming its leader and moulding it to his own notions.
George Whitefield also joined this group. Charles followed his father and brother into the church in
1735, and travelled with John to the colony of
Georgia in
America in the entourage of the governor,
James Oglethorpe, returning a year later.
Charles lived and worked in the area around
St Marylebone Parish Church and so, just before his death, he sent for its rector
John Harley and told him "Sir, whatever the world may say of me, I've lived, and I die, a member of the
Church of England. I pray you to bury me in your churchyard." On his death, his body was carried to the church by eight clergymen of the Church of England and a memorial stone to him stands in the gardens in Marylebone High Street, close to his burial spot. One of his sons,
Samuel, was later organist of the present church.
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Marriage and issue
In
1749, he married the much younger Sarah Gwynne, daughter of Marmaduke Gwynne, a wealthy Welsh magistrate who had been converted to Methodism by
Howell Harris. She accompanied the brothers on their evangelistic journeys throughout Britain, until Charles ceased to travel in
1765.
Charles and Sarah had 8 children together. However only three of them survived infancy,
Charles Wesley junior (
1757-
1834),
Samuel Wesley (
1766 –
1837), and their sister Sarah Wesley. Both Samuel and Charles junior were
organists and
composers; Samuel Wesley's son,
Samuel Sebastian Wesley was one of the foremost British composers of the 19th century, and some of Charles junior's works are still available and played.
Best-known hymns
In the course of his career, Charles Wesley published the words of over five and a half thousand
hymns, writing the words for a further two thousand, many of which are still popular. These include:
The lyrics to many more of Charles Wesley's hymns can be found on
Wikisource.
Some 150 of his hymns are included in the Methodist hymn book
Hymns and Psalms.
Legacy
He is commemorated in the
Calendar of Saints of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on March 2 with his brother John.
As a result of his enduring hymnody, the
Gospel Music Association recognized his musical contributions to the art of gospel music in 1995 by listing his name in the
Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Tercentenary
On 24th May 2007, there was a tercentenary celebration to celebrate 300 years since the birth of Charles Wesley, and many celebrations were held throughout England. It was held on the 24th May, known to all Methodists as 'Wesley Day,' although Charles Wesley wasn't born until December 1707. The May date actually commemorates the spiritual awakening of first Charles and then John Wesley in 1738. In particular, in the Village of Epworth, North Lincolnshire, at the Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, there was a fantastic flower festival, on the 26th 27th and 28th May, with some of the most astounding flower arrangements, representing some of Charles Wesley’s hymns, from ‘O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing,’ to ‘And Can It Be,’ and not forgetting ‘O For a Trumpet Voice,’ the name of the flower festival.
In November 2007,
An Post, the Irish Post Office issued a 78c stamp to commemorate the 300th Anniversary of his birth.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Charles Wesley'.
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