Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English leader of the
Methodist
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...
movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500
hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn ...
s during his lifetime.
His works include "
And Can It Be
"And Can It Be That I Should Gain?" is a Christian hymn written by Charles Wesley in 1738 to celebrate his conversion, which he regarded as having taken place on 21 May of that year. The hymn celebrates personal salvation through the death and ...
", "
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
"Christ 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 Poems'' by Charles and John We ...
", the carol "
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", and "
Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending".
Charles Wesley was born in
Epworth, Lincolnshire, the son of
Anglican cleric and poet
Samuel Wesley and his wife
Susanna. He was a younger brother of Methodist founder
John Wesley and Anglican cleric
Samuel Wesley the Younger, and he became the father of musician
Samuel Wesley and grandfather of musician
Samuel Sebastian Wesley.
He was educated at
Oxford University, where his brothers had also studied, and he formed the "
Holy Club" among his fellow students in 1729. John Wesley later joined this group, as did
George Whitefield. Charles followed his father and brother into the church in 1735, and he travelled with John to
Georgia in America, returning a year later. Following their
evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being " born again", in which an individual expe ...
conversions in 1738, the Wesley brothers travelled throughout Britain, converting followers to the Methodist revival through preaching and hymn-singing. In 1749, he married
Sarah Gwynne, daughter of a Welsh gentleman who had been converted to Methodism by
Howell Harris. From 1756 his ministry became more static and he ministered in
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city, Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Glouces ...
, and later
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
.
Despite their closeness, Charles and 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
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Brit ...
into which they had been
ordained.
Biography
Early life
Charles Wesley was the eighteenth child of
Susanna Wesley and
Samuel Wesley. He was born in
Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, where his father was
rector.
[ In 1716, at the age of 8, he entered Westminster School, where his brother Samuel was usher. He was selected as King's Scholar in 1721 and head boy in 1725–26, before matriculating at Christ Church, Oxford.]
At Oxford, Charles formed a prayer group among his fellow students in 1727; his elder brother, John, joined in 1729, soon becoming its leader and moulding it in line with his own convictions. They focused on studying the Bible and living a holy life. Other students mocked them, saying they were the " Holy Club", "Sacramentarians", and "the Methodists", being methodical and exceptionally detailed in their Bible study, opinions and disciplined lifestyle.[ The Wesleys' future colleague, George Whitefield joined the group. Charles tutored while studying; he graduated in 1732 with a master's degree in classical languages and literature. Charles followed his father and brothers into Anglican orders, being ordained as a ]priest
A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in partic ...
in September 1735. That same year his father died.
Voyage to America
On 14 October 1735, Charles and his brother John sailed on ''The Simmonds'' from Gravesend, Kent for Savannah in Georgia Colony in British America at the request of the governor, James Oglethorpe
James Edward Oglethorpe (22 December 1696 – 30 June 1785) was a British soldier, Member of Parliament, and philanthropist, as well as the founder of the colony of Georgia in what was then British America. As a social reformer, he hoped to r ...
. Charles was appointed Secretary of Indian Affairs and while John remained in Savannah, Charles went as chaplain to the garrison and colony at nearby Fort Frederica
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
, St. Simon's Island, arriving there Tuesday, 9 March 1736 according to his journal entry.[
] 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.
Ministry
In 1738 the Wesley brothers had religious experiences
A religious experience (sometimes known as a spiritual experience, sacred experience, or mystical experience) is a subjective experience which is interpreted within a religious framework. The concept originated in the 19th century, as a defense ...
: Charles experienced a conversion on 21 May, and John had a similar experience in Aldersgate Street just three days later. A City of London blue plaque at 13 Little Britain Little Britain may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Little Britain'' (sketch show), a British radio and then TV show
** ''Little Britain USA'', an American spin-off
* "Little Britain", a song by Dreadzone from the 1995 album ''Second Light''
* ...
, near the church of St Botolph, Aldersgate, off St. Martin's Le Grand, marks the site of the former house of John Bray, reputed to be the scene of Charles' evangelical conversion. It reads, "Adjoining this site stood the house of John Bray. Scene of Charles Wesley's conversion by faith in Christ on May 21st 1738".
Charles felt renewed strength to spread the gospel to ordinary people and it was around then that he began to write the poetic hymns for which he would become known. In January 1739, he was appointed as curate
A curate () is a person who is invested with the ''care'' or ''cure'' (''cura'') ''of souls'' of a parish. In this sense, "curate" means a parish priest; but in English-speaking countries the term ''curate'' is commonly used to describe clergy ...
to serve at St Mary's Church, Islington, but was forced to resign when the churchwardens objected to his evangelical
Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide interdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being " born again", in which an individual expe ...
preaching. Later that same year, finding that they were unwelcome inside parish churches, the Wesley brothers took to preaching to crowds in open fields. They were influenced by George Whitefield, whose open-air preaching was already reaching great numbers of Bristol colliers.[ From 1740, John and Charles were the joint leaders of the ]Methodist Revival
Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's br ...
and evangelised throughout Britain and Ireland. They were opposed by many Anglican clergy, especially when their appointed lay preachers
Lay preacher is a preacher or a religious proclaimer who is not a formally ordained cleric and who does not hold a formal university degree in theology. Lay preaching varies in importance between religions and their sects. Although lay preache ...
began to preach in parishes without seeking permission. In Newcastle Charles established its first Methodist society in September 1742, and he faced mob violence at Wednesbury and Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire ...
in 1743 and at Devizes in 1747.
Following a period of illness, after 1756 Charles made no more journeys to distant parts of the country, mainly just moving between Bristol and London. Increasingly in his later years Charles became the mouthpiece of the so-called 'Church
Church may refer to:
Religion
* Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities
* Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination
* Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship
* Chri ...
Methodists'—he was strongly opposed to a separation of Methodism from its Anglican roots. In the 1780s, he was especially dismayed by his brother's ordination
Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...
of priests to serve in America (''see ''), which he criticised in a published poem.
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 Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...
magistrate who had been converted to Methodism by Howell Harris. They moved into a house at 4 Charles Street in Bristol in September 1749. Sarah accompanied the brothers on their journeys throughout Britain, until at least 1753.
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 Great Chesterfield Street (now Wheatley Street), Marylebone
Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary.
An ancient parish and latterly a metropolitan borough, it ...
, 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. (See monument in garden on north side of junction of Lewis Mead and The Haymarket, Bristol.) Both Samuel and Charles junior were musical child prodigies
A child prodigy is defined in psychology research literature as a person under the age of ten who produces meaningful output in some domain at the level of an adult expert. The term is also applied more broadly to young people who are extraor ...
and, like their father, became 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. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational ...
s and composers. Charles junior spent most of his career as the personal organist of the Royal Family, and Samuel became one of the most accomplished musicians in the world and is often called "the English Mozart". Samuel Wesley's son, Samuel Sebastian Wesley, was one of the foremost British composers of the 19th century.
Death and burial
On his deathbed he sent for the Rector of St Marylebone Parish Church, John Harley, and purportedly 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." At the age of 80, he died on 29 March 1788, in London. His body was carried to the church by six clergymen of the Church of England. A memorial stone to him stands in the gardens in Marylebone High Street, close to his place of burial. One of his sons, Samuel, became the organist at the church.
Hymns and other works
Charles Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter. Among the collections ( hymnals) of Wesley's hymns published in his lifetime were ''Hymns on God's Everlasting Love'' (1741, 1742), ''Hymns on the Lord's Supper
The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was institut ...
'' (1745), and ''Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures'' (1762), together with others celebrating the major festivals of the Christian year. His hymns are marked by their strong doctrinal content (notably the Arminian insistence on the universality of God's love), a richness of scriptural and literary allusion, and the variety of his metrical and stanza forms. They are considered to have had a significant influence not only on Methodism, but on Christian worship and modern theology as a whole.
Wesley's poetry included epistles, elegies and political and satirical verse. A collected edition of ''The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley'', edited by George Osborn, was published in thirteen volumes in 1868–1872. Osborn's collection has now been supplemented by the three volumes of ''The Unpublished Poetry of Charles Wesley''.
Jason E. Vickers states that Wesley's 'conversion experience' in 1738 had a clear impact on his doctrine, especially doctrine concerning the power of the Holy Spirit. The change was most prominent in his hymns written after the same year. From his published work ''Hymns and Prayers to the Trinity'' and in Hymn number 62 he writes "The Holy Ghost in part we know, For with us He resides, Our whole of good to Him we owe, Whom by His grace he guides, He doth our virtuous thoughts inspire, The evil he averts, And every seed of good desire, He planted in our hearts." Charles communicates several doctrines: the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the sanctifying work of the Spirit, the depravity
Depravity may refer to:
* Total depravity, a theological doctrine that derives from the Augustinian concept of original sin
*Lack of morality
*Sin
In a religious context, sin is a transgression against divine law. Each culture has its own ...
of mankind, and humanity's personal accountability to God.
Hymnody
In the course of his career, Wesley published the words of between 6,500 and 10,000 hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn ...
s, many of which are still popular. These include:
*"Arise, My Soul, Arise" ( Words)
*" And Can It Be That I Should Gain?" ( Words)
*"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
"Christ 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 Poems'' by Charles and John We ...
" ( Words)
*"Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies" ( Words)
*" Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown" ( Words)
*"Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
"Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus" is a 1744 Advent and Christmas carol common in Protestant hymnals. The text was written by Charles Wesley. It is performed to one of several tunes, including "Stuttgart" (attr. to Christian Friedrich Witt), " Hyfr ...
" ( Words)
*"Depth of Mercy, Can it Be" ( Words)
*"Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee" ( Words)
*"Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise" ( Words)
*" Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" ( Words)
*"Jesus, Lover of My Soul" ( Words)
*"Jesus, The Name High Over All" ( Words)
*" Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending" ( Words)
*" Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" ( Words)
*"O for a Heart to Praise My God" ( Words)
*" O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing" ( Words)
*"O Thou Who Camest from Above" ( Words)
*"Rejoice, the Lord is King" ( Words)
*" Soldiers of Christ, Arise" ( Words)
*" Sun of Unclouded Righteousness" ( Words)
*"Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose" ( Words)
*"Ye Servants of God" ( Words)
The words to many more of Charles Wesley's hymns can be found on Wikisource and in his many publications.
Some 150 of his hymns are in the Methodist hymn book ''Hymns and Psalms
''Hymns and Psalms'' was the primary hymnbook of the Methodist Church of Great Britain from 1983 until 2010. The hymnbook was first published by the Methodist Publishing House in 1983, to replace the ''Methodist Hymn-Book'', which was published s ...
'', including "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing", and ''The Church Hymn Book'' (In New York and Chicago, US, 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 well as the Swedish ''Metodist-Episkopal-Kyrkans Psalmbok'' printed in Stockholm in 1892.
Psalms
Wesley's hymns are notable as interpretations of Scripture. He also produced paraphrases of the Psalms
The Book of Psalms ( or ; he, תְּהִלִּים, , lit. "praises"), also known as the Psalms, or the Psalter, is the first book of the ("Writings"), the third section of the Tanakh, and a book of the Old Testament. The title is derived ...
, contributing to the long tradition of English metrical Psalmody. A notable feature of his Psalms is the introduction of Jesus into the Psalms, continuing a tradition of Christological readings of the Psalms evident in the translations of John Patrick and Isaac Watts. The introduction of Jesus into the Psalms was often the source of controversy, even within Wesley's own family. Charles' brother Samuel Wesley wrote a poem against such practice. Of particular importance is Wesley's manuscript Psalms, held in the archives of the Pitts Theology Library at Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1836 as "Emory College" by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory, Emory is the second-oldest private institution of ...
.
Legacy
Wesley is still remembered for his ministry while in St. Simon's Island, Georgia, by the South Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church; in 1950, the conference opened a Christian retreat center on the island by the banks of the Frederica River, designating it Epworth by the Sea in honour of his and John's birthplace.
He is commemorated in the Calendar of Saints
The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context do ...
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
The calendar of saints is the traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the day as the feast day or feast of said saint. The word "feast" in this context do ...
of the Episcopal Church. Charles is commemorated on 29 March in the Calendar of Commemorations by The Order of Saint Luke; John is commemorated on 2 March; their parents are also commemorated.
Charles is remembered (with John) in the Church of England
The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Brit ...
with a Lesser Festival on 24 May
Events Pre-1600
* 919 – The nobles of Franconia and Saxony elect Henry the Fowler at the Imperial Diet in Fritzlar as king of the East Frankish Kingdom.
*1218 – The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt.
*1276 – Magnus Lad ...
.
As a result of his enduring hymnody, the Gospel Music Association recognised his musical contributions to the art of gospel music in 1995 by listing his name in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Wesley's hymns are utilised in not only Methodist churches but other Protestant denominations, and have been adopted by the Roman Catholic Church. Wesley wrote two of the so-called 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 C ...
: "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending".
;Memorials
File:Wesley plaque, Postman's Park.JPG, Plaque at Postman's Park, London, commemorating John and Charles Wesley
File:Charles Wesley 2.JPG, Wesley at St. Matthew's Church in Bristol, by Arnold Wathen Robinson
Arnold Wathen Robinson RWA, FMGP (1888–1955) was an English stained-glass artist. Although Robinson's family, on the paternal and maternal side were involved in local government, he sought a career as a stained-glass artist. During World ...
File:Church Musicians window, King's Heath, Birmingham.JPG, Bach, Wesley and Handel, at Cambridge Road Methodist Church, Birmingham
Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the We ...
File:17 22 169 window.jpg, Stained glass of Charles Wesley, John Wesley, and Francis Asbury at Lake Junaluska
Lake Junaluska is a census-designated place (CDP) in Haywood County, North Carolina, United States, and a manmade lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is part of the Asheville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Lake Junaluska is named after nearby ...
File:Charles Wesley by Frederick Brook Hitch 01.jpg, Statue by Frederick Brook Hitch at the New Room, Bristol
John Wesley's New Room is a historic building in Broadmead, Bristol, England. Opened in 1739, it housed the earliest Methodist societies, and was enlarged in 1748. As the oldest purpose-built Methodist preaching house (chapel), it has been de ...
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 Aldersgate Day
Aldersgate Day, or Wesley Day, is an anniversary observed by Methodist Christians on 24 May. It recalls the day in 1738 when Church of England priest John Wesley attended a group meeting in Aldersgate, London, where he received an experience of ...
and commemorates the spiritual awakening of first Charles and then John Wesley in 1738.
In November 2007, An Post, the Irish Post Office, issued a 78-cent stamp to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Wesley's birth.
In film
* ''A Heart Set Free'' – T. N. Mohan, 2007, a feature-length documentary on Charles Wesley's life and hymns."A Heart Set Free", Washington County Cooperative Library Services
/ref>
* '' Wesley'' – Foundery Pictures, 2009, starring Burgess Jenkins as John Wesley, R. Keith Harris as Charles Wesley, and featuring June Lockhart as Susanna Wesley and Kevin McCarthy as Bishop Ryder
References
External links
Charles Wesley
at th
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive (ECPA)
*Biography and works at th
Biography and articles about Charles Wesley
The Journal of Charles Wesley
Papers of Charles Wesley
*
*
Charles Wesley family papers, 1740–1864
at Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology
Candler School of Theology is one of seven graduate schools at Emory University, located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia. A university-based school of theology, Candler educates ministers, scholars of religion and other leaders. It is also o ...
Charles Wesley Conference 2007
held at Liverpool Hope University
'Charles Wesley in Historical Perspective: Poet, Priest and Theologian'
lecture delivered by Revd Professor Kenneth Newport, at Gresham College, 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 Man Named Wesley Passed This Way
historical marker at St. Simons Island, Georgia
St. Simons Island (or simply St. Simons) is a barrier island and census-designated place (CDP) located on St. Simons Island in Glynn County, Georgia, United States. The names of the community and the island are interchangeable, known simply as ...
Reverends John & Charles Wesley
historical marker
Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library
Emory University
Charles Wesley family papers, 1740–1864
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wesley, Charles
1707 births
1788 deaths
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18th-century English musicians
18th-century English non-fiction writers
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18th-century hymnwriters
Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford
English Anglican missionaries
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Methodist missionaries in the United States
Church of England hymnwriters
English Methodist missionaries
English evangelicals
Evangelical Anglican theologians
Evangelists
People of Georgia (British colony)
People celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendar
English Methodist hymnwriters
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Charles
Sacred music composers
Protestant missionaries in England
String quartet composers
Burials at St Marylebone Parish Church
Anglican saints
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