Charles Wesley

EARLY LIFE 

Charles Wesley was born on December 18, 1707 in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, where his father was rector.

He was born several weeks before his time and appeared more dead than alive, but was carefully wrapped in warm wool.

He was the eighteenth child out of nineteen of Susanna Wesley and Samuel Wesley.

Charles' father Samuel was a poet and he passed on his poetic gifts to his son.

His older brother, John Wesley, was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism.

Charles survived a fire when he was a few months old that destroyed the Epworth vicarage. A maid courageously carried him out of the burning building in her arms.

Charles was strictly homeschooled by his parents along with his siblings. Later, he attended Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford.

Charles graduated with a master's degree in classical languages and literature.

Portrait by John Russell

CAREER RECORD

Charles followed his father and brother John into Anglican orders in 1735.

In October 1735, Charles and his brother John sailed for Savannah in Georgia Colony in British America at the request of its governor, James Oglethorpe.

Charles was asked to be chaplain to the garrison and colony at nearby Fort Frederica, St. Simon's Island, arriving there on March 9, 1736. Matters did not turn out well, and he was largely rejected by the settlers.

From 1740 Charles was a regular and itinerant preacher with his brother John. One of his sermons, “Awake Thou That Sleepest,” first preached before the University of Oxford in 1742, became the most frequently published Methodist tract of the Wesleys' lifetime.

After marrying in 1749, Charles made his home in Bristol and supervised the Methodist society, which met at the New Room there.

Wesley moved to London in 1771 and shared the preaching at City Road Chapel.

Charles Wesley preaching, by William Gush

HYMNS

Charles Wesley wrote over 6000 hymns, more than any other male. (Fanny Crosby wrote 8000). He had the ability of expressing faith in simple ways. His motivation in writing his hymns was to teach the illiterate good doctrine. His brother, John, said that Charles' hymnal was the best theological book in existence. It is said Methodism was born in song and Charles was the chief songwriter.

In 1738 Charles Wesley converted from High Church to Evangelical three days before his brother, John, had the same experience. "And Can It Be" was written in 1738 to celebrate Wesley's conversion. The lines "My chains fell off, my heart was free. I rose, went forth, and followed thee" are based on the story of the liberation of Saint Peter in the New Testament.

A year later Wesley wrote the hymn "O for A Thousand Tongues," to celebrate the first anniversary of his conversion. It was inspired by a Moravian friend Peter Bohler, who had remarked to him, "If I had a thousand tongues I would praise Christ with them all."

In 1760 Charles Wesley wrote the lyrics to "Hark! the Herald Angels Sing." He borrowed the 45-year-old tune of "Thus When Mars from Wars Returning," from the English composer John Blow's opera, Venus and Adonis.

The tune we use today was composed by Felix Mendelssohn. Its from the second chorus "Gott ist Licht" ("God is Light"), of the cantata Festgesang ("Festival Song") composed to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of movable type printing, In 1855 Dr. William Cummings, who was an enthusiast of the German composer, put Wesley's words and Mendelssohn's music together.

Worship of the Shepherds by Bronzino

During the awakening, Charles Wesley's most popular hymn was "Jesus Lover of my Soul", which was inspired by Wesley seeing through an open window a small bird pursued by a large hawk. Through the window fluttered the frightened sparrow into Wesley's arms.

He amassed some £175,000 from his writings.

BELIEFS 

At Oxford, Charles formed a prayer group among his fellow students in 1727. They focused on studying the Bible and living a holy life. Other students mocked them, saying they were the "Holy Club" and "the Methodists".

Charles converted to evangelical Christianity on May 21, 1738 through a sister of a contact of his in America, Mrs Turner. As she spoke to him about Christ, he picked up his Bible and opened to “He hath put a new song, in my mouth, even praise unto our God.” Psalm 40 v 3.

His journal entry for May 21 reads:
"I now found myself at peace with God, and rejoiced in hope of loving Christ...I saw that by faith I stood, by the continual support of faith...I went to bed still sensible of my own weakness...yet confident of Christ's protection."

Early portrait of Wesley

PERSONAL LIFE 

In 1749 Charles married Sarah "Sally" Gwyne, the much younger daughter of a Welsh magistrate who had been converted to Methodism by Howell Harris.

The wedding took place at the small parish church at Llanlleonfel near Garth, which is 6 miles (10 km) west of Builth Wells. The marriage was conducted by John Wesley.

In September 1749 the Wesleys moved into 4 Charles Street in Bristol which remained their main residence until 1771.

Sarah led the singing in Charles' congregation and often accompanied him on his evangelistic journeys.

Despite being on the road a lot Wesley had a way of meeting his wife across the miles. The idea was that they should agree to pray exactly at the same time each day at a certain time on certain other days. Though separated they should at these times meet as if it were God’s mercy seat.

"Sally" Wesley

Only three of the couple's children survived infancy including two sons, Charles and Samuel. Samuel became a Catholic in 1784 and was a celebrated organist and writer of church music. His Uncle John commented: "You can be saved in any church and you can be damned in any church. What matters is how is your heart with Christ."

Due to his sensitive, artistic nature, Wesley frequently became depressed.

DEATH 

On his deathbed he sent for the church's 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."

Charles Wesley died on March 29, 1788 aged 80 in London. He uttered his last words, "I shall be satisfied with Thy likeness—satisfied, satisfied!" before dying.

He was buried, as requested,  in the Marylebone Parish church graveyard.

Source Great Christian Hymn Writers by Jane Stuart Smith and Betty Carlson