charles wesley 300th birthday

1

Charles Wesley

“Sweet Singer of Methodism”

Presented by theMoore Methodist Museum

2

Charles’ Birth

Epworth England

3

4Charles Wesley

5

Boyhood

• Born at Epworth December 18, 1707• Premature – wrapped in wool for weeks• Carried out of fire at house - 1709• 18th child and youngest of three surviving sons• Parents Samuel and Susanna Wesley• Father was Anglican priest; poor• Four years younger than John• Mother started home-schooling at age 5

6

John and Charles Samuel and Susannah

7

Young Adult

• Entered Westminster School in London at age 9 - 1716

• Became Kings Scholar – provided free board/tuition

• Became Captain of Westminster School - 1725

• Selected to attend Oxford - 1726

• He organized Holy Club during this time.

8

Oxford University England

9

While students at Oxford University, Charles and John

began a fellowship of students. What was

this group known as?

Do You Know?

The Holy Club

10

Georgia• Sailed with John from Gravesend

December 22, 1735• Simmonds – ship• Landed Savannah February 5,

1736• 26 Moravians on board greatly

influenced both brothers• Oglethorpe’s secretary and

Secretary for Indian Affairs• Left July 26, 1736 (less than 6

months)

11

Early Savannah

12

Fort Frederica

13

14

Back to England

• Left from Boston to return to England – 1736

• Warmly welcomed; interested in Georgia

• Resumed activities with Oxford Methodists

• Met and reconciled with Oglethorpe in London

• Continued Holy Club • Visited family • Considered returning to

colonies

15

Conversion of Charles Wesley

• May 21, 1738 in London at the home of a friend• William Holland read Luther’s commentary on

Galatians• “He loved me and gave himself for me.”• Wrote the hymn “Where shall my wondering

soul begin?” • May 24, 1738 - John Wesley had his Aldersgate

experience.

16

Do You Know?

When John and Charles Wesley

founded the Holy Club, how many

members of the House of Commons went to

church?

5 or 6 members

17

Life in England

• Driven out of Anglican pulpits

• Mobbed and harassed; even accused of treason

• Yet a tireless Evangelist• Field Preacher

as inspired by George Whitefield

• Preached to coal miners and prisoners

18

Marriage• Met Sarah at her house while recuperating from

illness• Father was a magistrate; affluent• Married Sarah Gwynne April 8, 1749• John performed wedding • Sarah was a gifted singer• 8 children; only 3 survived infancy• Children – Charles, Jr., Sarah, and Samuel• Married until his death on March 29, 1788

19

Sarah and Charles

20

Were Charles Wesley’s hymns

sung in the parish

churches during his lifetime?

Do You Know?

No, they were sung in the market squares and fields of England.

21

Charles wrote over 6,000 hymns!

22

What famous classical composer

wrote tunes for Charles Wesley and

also wrote the famous

oratorio “Messiah”?

Do You Know?

George Frederic Handel

23

24

“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”

• Appeared in 1739 in the book, Hymns and Sacred Poems

• Originally called “Hymn for Christmas Day”

• 10 four line stanzas; 6 generally used today

• George Whitefield included it in his Collection in 1753

25

How many hymns did Charles

Wesley compose?

Do You Know?

Over 6,000

26

Charles’ DeathFinal Words

“Whatever the world may have thought of me, I have lived, and I died, in the communion of the Church of England, and I will be buried in the yard of my parish church.”

Died in London on March 29, 1788 at the age of 81

27

Buried at Marylebone Old Church, England

28

Wesley Memorial

WestminsterAbby

29

30

Happy 300 th Birthday!

31

You’re invited to see all this and more at the Moore Methodist Museum.

Sign up for the Charles Wesley Celebration.