Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Minister and Hymn writer of the Evangelical Revival

Summary

• 1707 Born at Epworth in Lincolnshire to Samuel & Susanna Wesley
• 1720 went up to Christ Church, Oxford
• 1727 Formed "Holy Club" at Oxford, later joined by John Wesley and George Whitefield.
• 1735 Ordained into the Anglican ministry and travelled to Georgia (USA) as a missionary
• 1738 Returned to England linking up with the Moravians and experienced new birth, from this point started composing hymns, eventually becoming one of the greatest hymn-writers with over 5,500 hymns published in his lifetime, some of which are still popular today including: "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing," "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing," "Jesu, Lover of my Soul," "Jesus, The Name High Over All."
• 1739 Separated from the Moravians and began itinerant preaching with other “methodists” including his brother John, split with George Whitefield over predestination, but later reunited. Wesley refused to separate from the established Church.
• 1749 Married Sarah Gwynne, who gave birth to 8 children, 3 of which survived to adulthood .
• 1788 Died peacefully at the age of 88.

Charles Wesley Biography by Frank Colquhoun

Published by Church Book Room Press

• Introduction and Conversion
• The Work of an Evangelist
• Battle Songs of the Gospel
• Charles Wesley as a Churchman
• Characteristics of the Hymns

Articles

• The Poetry of Charles Wesley. Churchman article from 1956 by J. Dale.

• Charles Wesley's Eucharistic Hymns. Churchman article from 1949 by F. Colquhoun.