Charles Wesley
Encyclopedia
Charles Wesley was an English
leader of the Methodist
movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley
, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley
and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley (the Younger)
, and father of musician Samuel Wesley
, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley
. Despite their closeness, Charles and his brother John did not 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 had been ordained. Charles Wesley is chiefly remembered for the many hymn
s he wrote. He ministered for part of his life in The New Room Chapel
in Bristol. His house, located nearby, can still be visited today.
and Samuel Wesley
. He was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire
, England, where his father was rector. He was educated at Westminster School
and Christ Church, Oxford
, 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. After graduating with a Masters' in classical languages and literature, Charles followed his father and brother into the church in 1735. On 14 October 1735, Charles and his brother John sailed on "The Simmonds" from Gravesend, Kent
for Savannah
in the Georgia Colony
in British America
at the request of the governor, James Oglethorpe
. Charles was appointed Secretary of Indian Affairs and while John remained in Savannah, Charles went as chaplain to the garrison and colony at near-by Fort Frederica, St. Simon's Island
, arriving there Tuesday, 9 March 1736 according to his journal entry. However, matters did not turn out well, and he was largely rejected by the settlers. In July 1736, Charles was commissioned to England as the bearer of dispatches to the trustees of the colony. On 16 August 1736, he sailed from Charleston, South Carolina
, never to return to the Georgia colony again.
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 have 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 six 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
, became organist of the church.
magistrate who had been converted to Methodism by Howell Harris
. They moved into a house in Bristol
in September 1749. Sarah accompanied the brothers on their evangelistic
journeys throughout Britain, until at least 1753. After 1756 Charles made no more journeys to distant parts of the country, mainly just moving between Bristol and London.
In 1771 Charles obtained another house, in London, and moved into it that year with his elder son. By 1778 the whole family had transferred from Bristol to the London house, at 1 Chesterfield Street, Marylebone
, where they remained until Charles' death and on into the 19th century. The house in Bristol
still stands and has been restored, however the London house was demolished in the mid 19th century.
Only three of the couple's children survived infancy: Charles Wesley junior
(1757–1834), Sarah Wesley (1759–1828), who like her mother was also known as Sally and Samuel Wesley
(1766–1837) Their other children, John, Martha Maria, Susannah, Selina and John James are all buried in Bristol having died between 1753 and 1768. Both Samuel and Charles junior were musical child prodigies and became organist
s and composer
s, though Samuel's fame outlasted that of Charles. Samuel Wesley's son, Samuel Sebastian Wesley
, was one of the foremost British composers of the 19th century.
s, 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
and "Hymns and Sacred Poems".
Some 150 of his hymns are in the Methodist hymn book Hymns and Psalms
, including "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, and "The Church Hymn Book" (In New York and Chicago, USA, 1872) where "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" is published.
Many of his hymns are translated into other languages, and form the foundation for Methodist hymnals, as the Swedish Metodist-Episkopal-Kyrkans Psalmbok printed in Stockholm in 1892.
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
on 2 March with his brother John. The Wesley brothers are also commemorated on 3 March in the Calendar of Saints
of the Episcopal Church and on 24 May in the Anglican calendar
.
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
.
Wesley wrote two of the so-called Great Four Anglican Hymns
.
In November 2007, An Post
, the Irish Post Office, issued a 78c stamp to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Wesley's birth.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
leader of the Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley (poet)
Samuel Wesley was a poet and a writer of controversial prose. He was also the father of John Wesley and Charles Wesley, founders of the Methodist Church.-Family and early life:...
, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley (the Younger)
Samuel Wesley (the Younger)
Samuel Wesley the Younger was a poet and a Church of England cleric.-Birth:Wesley was the eldest son of the poet Samuel Wesley and of Susanna Annesley Wesley. He was the brother of John Wesley and Charles Wesley. He was born in Spitalfields, London in either 1690 or 1691...
, and father of musician Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley was an English organist and composer in the late Georgian period. Wesley was a contemporary of Mozart and was called by some "the English Mozart."-Personal life:...
, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley
Samuel Sebastian Wesley
Samuel Sebastian Wesley was an English organist and composer.-Biography:Born in London, he was the eldest child in the composer Samuel Wesley's second family, which he formed with Sarah Suter having separated from his wife Charlotte. Samuel Sebastian was the grandson of Charles Wesley...
. Despite their closeness, Charles and his brother John did not 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
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
into which they had been ordained. Charles Wesley is chiefly remembered for the many hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s he wrote. He ministered for part of his life in The New Room Chapel
New Room, Bristol
The New Room is a historic building in Broadmead, Bristol, England.It was built in 1739 by John Wesley and is the oldest Methodist chapel in the world. Above the chapel are the rooms in which Wesley and other preachers stayed. The chapel includes a double decker pulpit, which was common at the...
in Bristol. His house, located nearby, can still be visited today.
Biographical details
Charles Wesley was the son of Susanna WesleySusanna Wesley
Susanna Wesley , born Susanna Annesley, was the daughter of Dr. Samuel Annesley and Mary White, and the mother of John and Charles Wesley....
and Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley (poet)
Samuel Wesley was a poet and a writer of controversial prose. He was also the father of John Wesley and Charles Wesley, founders of the Methodist Church.-Family and early life:...
. He was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
, England, where his father was rector. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
, 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
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
also joined this group. After graduating with a Masters' in classical languages and literature, Charles followed his father and brother into the church in 1735. On 14 October 1735, Charles and his brother John sailed on "The Simmonds" from Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend, Kent
Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex. It is the administrative town of the Borough of Gravesham and, because of its geographical position, has always had an important role to play in the history and communications of this part of...
for Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
in the Georgia Colony
Province of Georgia
The Province of Georgia was one of the Southern colonies in British America. It was the last of the thirteen original colonies established by Great Britain in what later became the United States...
in British America
British America
For American people of British descent, see British American.British America is the anachronistic term used to refer to the territories under the control of the Crown or Parliament in present day North America , Central America, the Caribbean, and Guyana...
at the request of the governor, James Oglethorpe
James Oglethorpe
James Edward Oglethorpe was a British general, member of Parliament, philanthropist, and founder of the colony of Georgia...
. Charles was appointed Secretary of Indian Affairs and while John remained in Savannah, Charles went as chaplain to the garrison and colony at near-by Fort Frederica, St. Simon's Island
St. Simons, Georgia
St. Simons is a census-designated place located on St. Simons Island in Glynn County, Georgia, United States. Both the community and the island are commonly considered to be one location, known simply as "St. Simons Island", or locally as "The Island". St...
, arriving there Tuesday, 9 March 1736 according to his journal entry. However, matters did not turn out well, and he was largely rejected by the settlers. In July 1736, Charles was commissioned to England as the bearer of dispatches to the trustees of the colony. On 16 August 1736, he sailed from Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, never to return to the Georgia colony again.
Charles lived and worked in the area around St Marylebone Parish Church
St Marylebone Parish Church
-First church:The first church for the parish was built in the vicinity of the present Marble Arch c.1200, and dedicated to St John the Evangelist.-Second 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 have lived, and I die, a member of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. I pray you to bury me in your churchyard." On his death, his body was carried to the church by six 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
Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley was an English organist and composer in the late Georgian period. Wesley was a contemporary of Mozart and was called by some "the English Mozart."-Personal life:...
, became organist of the church.
Marriage and children
In April 1749, he married the much younger Sarah Gwynne (1726–1822), also known as Sally. She was the daughter of Marmaduke Gwynne, a wealthy WelshWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
magistrate who had been converted to Methodism by Howell Harris
Howell Harris
Hywel Harris was one of the main leaders of the Welsh Methodist revival in the 18th century, along with Daniel Rowland and William Williams Pantycelyn.-Life:...
. They moved into a house in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
in September 1749. Sarah accompanied the brothers on their evangelistic
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
journeys throughout Britain, until at least 1753. After 1756 Charles made no more journeys to distant parts of the country, mainly just moving between Bristol and London.
In 1771 Charles obtained another house, in London, and moved into it that year with his elder son. By 1778 the whole family had transferred from Bristol to the London house, at 1 Chesterfield Street, Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, where they remained until Charles' death and on into the 19th century. The house in Bristol
Charles Wesley's House
-External links:*...
still stands and has been restored, however the London house was demolished in the mid 19th century.
Only three of the couple's children survived infancy: Charles Wesley junior
Charles Wesley junior
Charles Wesley junior was an English organist and composer. He was the son of Charles Wesley, the great hymn-writer and one of the founders of Methodism, and the brother of Samuel Wesley, also an organist and composer. He is usually referred to as "Charles Wesley junior" to avoid confusion with...
(1757–1834), Sarah Wesley (1759–1828), who like her mother was also known as Sally and Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley was an English organist and composer in the late Georgian period. Wesley was a contemporary of Mozart and was called by some "the English Mozart."-Personal life:...
(1766–1837) Their other children, John, Martha Maria, Susannah, Selina and John James are all buried in Bristol having died between 1753 and 1768. Both Samuel and Charles junior were musical child prodigies and became organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
s and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s, though Samuel's fame outlasted that of Charles. Samuel Wesley's son, Samuel Sebastian Wesley
Samuel Sebastian Wesley
Samuel Sebastian Wesley was an English organist and composer.-Biography:Born in London, he was the eldest child in the composer Samuel Wesley's second family, which he formed with Sarah Suter having separated from his wife Charlotte. Samuel Sebastian was the grandson of Charles Wesley...
, was one of the foremost British composers of the 19th century.
Best-known hymns
In the course of his career, Charles Wesley published the words of over six thousand hymnHymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
s, writing the words for a further two thousand, many of which are still popular. These include:
- "And Can It Be That I Should Gain?" (Lyrics)
- "Christ the Lord Is Risen TodayChrist the Lord Is Risen TodayChrist the Lord Is Risen Today is a Christian hymn associated with Easter. Most of the stanzas were written by Charles Wesley, and the hymn appeared under the title Hymn for Easter Day in Hymns and Sacred Songs by Charles and John Wesley in 1739...
" (Lyrics) - "Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies" (Lyrics)
- "Come, O Thou Traveler unknown" (Lyrics)
- "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus" (Lyrics)
- "Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee" (Lyrics)
- "Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise" (Lyrics)
- "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing" (Lyrics)
- "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" (Lyrics)
- "Jesus, The Name High Over All" (Lyrics)
- "Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending" (Lyrics)
- "Love Divine, All Loves ExcellingLove Divine, All Loves Excelling"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" is a Christian hymn by Charles Wesley with a theme of 'Christian perfection."Judging by general repute, it is among Wesley's finest:"justly famous and beloved, better known than almost any other hymn of Charles Wesley."...
" (Lyrics) - "O for a Thousand Tongues to SingO for a Thousand Tongues to SingO For A Thousand Tongues To Sing is a Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley. Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns, many of which were subsequently reprinted, frequently with alterations, in hymnals, particularly those of Methodist Churches....
" (Lyrics) - "Rejoice, the Lord is King" (Lyrics)
- "Soldiers of Christ, AriseSoldiers of Christ, AriseSoldiers of Christ, Arise is an 18th century English hymn. The words were written by Charles Wesley , and the first line refers to the armour of God in Ephesians 6:10–18....
" (Lyrics) - "Ye Servants of God" (Lyrics)
The lyrics to many more of Charles Wesley's hymns can be found on Wikisource
Wikisource
Wikisource is an online digital library of free content textual sources on a wiki, operated by the Wikimedia Foundation. Its aims are to host all forms of free text, in many languages, and translations. Originally conceived as an archive to store useful or important historical texts, it has...
and "Hymns and Sacred Poems".
Some 150 of his hymns are in the Methodist hymn book Hymns and Psalms
Hymns and Psalms
Hymns and Psalms is the hymn book of the Methodist Church in the UK. The hymnbook was first published in 1983, to replace 'The Methodist Hymnbook', which was published soon after the unification of the Methodist Church in 1933....
, including "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing, and "The Church Hymn Book" (In New York and Chicago, USA, 1872) where "Jesus, Lover of My Soul" is published.
Many of his hymns are translated into other languages, and form the foundation for Methodist hymnals, as the Swedish Metodist-Episkopal-Kyrkans Psalmbok printed in Stockholm in 1892.
Legacy
He is commemorated in the Calendar of SaintsCalendar of Saints (Lutheran)
The Lutheran Calendar of Saints is a listing which details the primary annual festivals and events that are celebrated liturgically by some Lutheran Churches in the United States. The calendars of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod are from the...
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a mainline Protestant denomination headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The ELCA officially came into existence on January 1, 1988, by the merging of three churches. As of December 31, 2009, it had 4,543,037 baptized members, with 2,527,941 of them...
on 2 March with his brother John. The Wesley brothers are also commemorated on 3 March in the Calendar of Saints
Calendar of saints (Episcopal Church in the United States of America)
The veneration of saints in the Episcopal Church is a continuation of an ancient tradition from the early Church which honors important people of the Christian faith. The usage of the term "saint" is similar to Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions. Those in the Anglo-Catholic tradition may...
of the Episcopal Church and on 24 May in the Anglican calendar
Calendar of saints (Church of England)
The Church of England commemorates many of the same saints as those in the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, mostly on the same days, but also commemorates various notable Christians who have not been canonised by Rome, with a particular though not exclusive emphasis on those of English origin...
.
As a result of his enduring hymnody, the Gospel Music Association
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association was founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of Gospel music. There are currently about 4,000 members worldwide...
recognized his musical contributions to the art of gospel music in 1995 by listing his name in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame
Gospel Music Hall of Fame
The Gospel Music Hall of Fame, created in 1971 by the Gospel Music Association, is a Hall of Fame dedicated exclusively to recognizing meaningful contributions by individuals and groups in all forms of gospel music.-Inductees:...
.
Wesley wrote two of the so-called Great Four Anglican Hymns
Great Four Anglican Hymns
The "Great Four" are four hymns widely popular in Anglican and other Protestant churches during the 19th century.In his Anglican Hymnology, published in 1885, the Rev. James King surveyed 52 hymnals from the member churches of the Anglican Communion around the world, and found that 51 of them...
.
Tercentenary
24 May 2007 was celebrated as the tercentenary of Wesley's birth, with many celebratory events held throughout England, even though Wesley was in fact born in December 1707. The date of 24 May is known to Methodists as "Wesley Day" and 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 flower festival, on 26 and 28 May, with flower arrangements representing some of Wesley’s hymns, such as O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing, And Can It Be, and O For a Trumpet Voice.In November 2007, An Post
An Post
An Post is the State-owned provider of postal services in the Republic of Ireland. An Post provides a universal postal service to all parts of the country as a member of the Universal Postal Union...
, the Irish Post Office, issued a 78c stamp to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Wesley's birth.
In film
- Charles Wesley: Hymns of Praise – Comenius FoundationComenius Foundation (US)Comenius Foundation is a U.S.-based 501 nonprofit organization that uses media to promote education and faith. Named after pioneering educator and Moravian Bishop John Amos Comenius, the Foundation seeks to use modern media to promote the ideas of Comenius...
, 2005, in which Charles Wesley (portrayed by John JackmanJohn JackmanJohn Jackman is an American filmmaker, author, and Christian pastor. His filmmaking work has primarily emphasized historical faith related topics. He has written widely on digital filmmaking technology, film lighting, and digital special effects...
) tells the stories behind the writing of many of his hymns - A Heart Set Free – T. N. Mohan, 2007, a feature-length documentary on Charles Wesley's life and hymns
- WesleyWesley (film)Wesley is a 2009 biopic about John Wesley and Charles Wesley, the founders of the Methodist movement. The movie is based largely on the Wesley brother's own journals, including John's private journal which was kept in a shorthand-like code that was not translated until the 1980s by Dr...
– Foundery Pictures, 2009, starring Burgess JenkinsBurgess JenkinsBurgess Jenkins is a film actor known for work in the 2000 film Remember The Titans opposite Academy Award winner Denzel Washington; as Hilary Swank's husband David Winter in The Reaping...
as John Wesley, R. Keith Harris as Charles Wesley, and featuring June LockhartJune LockhartJune Lockhart is an American actress, primarily in 1950s and 1960s television, but with memorable performances on stage and in film too. She is remembered as the mother in two TV series, Lassie and Lost in Space. She also portrayed Dr...
as Susanna WesleySusanna WesleySusanna Wesley , born Susanna Annesley, was the daughter of Dr. Samuel Annesley and Mary White, and the mother of John and Charles Wesley....
and Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthy (actor)Kevin McCarthy was an American stage, film, and television actor, who appeared in over two hundred television and film roles. For his role in the 1951 film version of Death of a Salesman, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and won a Golden Globe Award for New Star of...
as Bishop Ryder
External links
- Biography & works at the Cyber Hymnal
- The Journal of Charles Wesley
- Charles Wesley Conference 2007 held at Liverpool Hope UniversityLiverpool Hope UniversityLiverpool Hope University is a university in Liverpool, England. Two of its three founding colleges were established in 1844 and 1856, the third opening in the 1960s. It is the only ecumenical university in Europe. Based on two campuses, the main campus is located in Childwall and the second...
- 'Charles Wesley in Historical Perspective: Poet, Priest and Theologian', lecture delivered by Revd Professor Kenneth Newport, at Gresham CollegeGresham CollegeGresham College is an institution of higher learning located at Barnard's Inn Hall off Holborn in central London, England. It was founded in 1597 under the will of Sir Thomas Gresham and today it hosts over 140 free public lectures every year within the City of London.-History:Sir Thomas Gresham,...
, 13 December 2007. (Available for download as MP3 and MP4). - Charles Wesley's Journal 1736-56 on A Vision of Britain through Time, with links to the places visited.
- A Heart Set Free, 2007 Documentary
- Charles Wesley: Hymns of Praise, 2005 Drama