Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley
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Name	Charles Wesley
Caption	Portrait by John Russell
Birth date	18 December 1707
Birth place	Epworth, Lincolnshire
Death date	29 March 1788
Death place	London
Occupation	Cleric, hymnwriter
Education	Westminster School, Christ Church, Oxford
Spouse	Sarah Gwynne
Children	8, including Samuel Wesley and Charles Wesley junior
Known for	Co-founder of Methodism, prolific hymnody

Charles Wesley. An English cleric, theologian, and prolific hymnwriter, he was a principal founder, alongside his brother John Wesley, of the Methodist movement. His extensive body of work, including over 6,000 hymns, provided a theological and devotional foundation for Evangelicalism and profoundly shaped Protestant worship worldwide. His life and ministry were deeply intertwined with the Evangelical Revival in 18th-century Britain.

Early life and education

Born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, he was the eighteenth child of the rector Samuel Wesley and his wife Susanna Wesley. He was educated at Westminster School in London, where his older brother Samuel Wesley was an usher, before matriculating at Christ Church, Oxford in 1726. At Oxford University, he formed the "Holy Club" with fellow students, including George Whitefield, a group dedicated to methodical study, prayer, and charitable works, which earned them the derisive nickname "Methodists." His academic and spiritual formation during this period was rigorous, culminating in his ordination as a deacon in the Church of England in 1735.

Ministry and hymn writing

Following a brief and disillusioning missionary journey to the Colony of Georgia with his brother John Wesley under the auspices of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, he experienced a profound evangelical conversion on 21 May 1738. This event, centered on the assurance of salvation by faith, galvanized his ministry. He immediately began writing hymns, a practice that would continue for decades, often composing verses to accompany sermons or to teach doctrine. He became a tireless itinerant preacher throughout Great Britain, frequently facing hostility from mobs and clergy opposed to the Methodist message. His hymns, such as "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today," were integral to the revival, sung at open-air meetings and in the burgeoning Methodist societies.

Theological views and controversies

A staunch defender of Arminianism, he opposed the Calvinism preached by his former colleague George Whitefield, particularly the doctrine of predestination. This theological rift led to a significant controversy and the eventual separation of Methodist preaching circuits. While fully committed to the Evangelical Revival, he remained a devoted clergyman of the Church of England throughout his life and was often more cautious than his brother John Wesley regarding separatism from the established church. His hymns consistently emphasized themes of prevenient grace, personal conversion, and Christian perfection, articulating a vibrant, experiential theology accessible to the common people.

Family and later life

In 1749, he married Sarah Gwynne (Sally), daughter of a Welsh magistrate, and they settled in Bristol and later in London. The marriage was notably happy, and they had eight children, though only three survived infancy. His sons, Samuel Wesley and Charles Wesley junior, became accomplished musicians and composers. In his later years, he gradually withdrew from extensive itinerant preaching, focusing more on pastoral care in London and his hymn writing. He maintained a close, though sometimes strained, relationship with his brother John Wesley, particularly over the latter's ordinations of ministers for America, which he viewed as a schismatic act against the Church of England.

Legacy and influence

His immense contribution of hymns, including "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" and "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing," has secured his place as one of Christianity's greatest hymnwriters. His works are found in hymnals across denominations, from Methodist to Anglican, Baptist, and beyond. The Wesleyan tradition of theology and worship is deeply indebted to his poetic and doctrinal output. Institutions like Wesley College and numerous Wesleyan Methodist bodies bear the family name. His hymns continue to be sung globally, a lasting testament to his role in shaping the heart of Protestant worship and spirituality.

Category:English hymnwriters Category:Methodist hymnwriters Category:Anglican hymnwriters Category:Christian theologians Category:People from Epworth, Lincolnshire Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Category:Wesley family