300th Anniversary of Charles Wesley's Birth
IN CELEBRATION OF THE
300TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLES WESLEY’S BIRTH
DECEMBER 18, 2007
CHARLES WESLEY’S LIFE
Dec 18, 1707 born, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England; 18th child and youngest son of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, brother of John
1716 enrolled in Westminster School; room and board paid by his brother Samuel
1721 elected a king’s scholar and provided with free board and education
1726 entered Christ College, Oxford
1729 Charles formed the Oxford Holy Club, came to be jokingly called “Methodists” by their fellow students; club started by Charles (the “first Methodist”), later headed by John
1730 graduated, Christ College, Oxford, B.A.
1732 George Whitefield joined the Holy Club
1732 graduated, Christ College, Oxford, M.A
May 1735 Whitefield the first Holy Club member to find assurance of salvation
1735 ordained deacon and elder, Church of England
1735 sailed to the new Georgia Colony in America with John as a missionary; served as General James Oglethorpe’s secretary and Secretary of Indian Affairs at St. Simon’s Island. Becoming disillusioned, he returned to England (by way of Boston, where he preached at the Old North Church – Christ Church – and at King’s Chapel).
Mar 25, 1736 began writing in his Journal while in Georgia, with entries to Nov. 4, 1756 in Bristol
1736 became disillusioned, returned to England, arriving Dec 3
1737 appeared before King George II on behalf of the Univ. of Oxford at Hampton Court
1738 suffers from pleurisy, ending his hope to return to Georgia as a missionary
April 1738 travel to London with John and the Moravian, Peter Bohler, who instructed the brothers in evangelical Christianity
May 21, 1738 On Whitsunday, following a reading of Luther’s commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, he was “born again,” converted into a new faith three days before John’s conversion. He put this experience into the words of his first hymn, “Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin,” no. 342 in The United Methodist Hymnal.
Oct 1738 preached extempore for the first time at St. Antholin’s Church, Bristol
1739 first publication of “And Can It Be that I Should Gain” and “Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin,” both composed at or near his conversion; also wrote “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing”
1739 served, without license from the bishop, as curate of St. Mary’s Islington, a center of early Methodist activity
1740 first publication of “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” composed in 1739 in celebration of his 1738 conversion; also “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
1744 first publication of “Come, Thou Long-expected Jesus”
1747 first publication of “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
1749 moved to Bristol, married Sarah Gwynne (John officiated), eventually having eight children; unlike his brother’s marriage, it was a happy, loving relationship
1749 first publication of “And Are We Yet Alive”
Fall 1756 itinerant ministry ends in the north of England; final Journal entry Nov. 5
1762 Short Hymns on Select Passages of the Holy Scriptures, for which Wesley composed hymns and poems on scriptures from every book of the Bible
1762 composes “A Charge to Keep I Have,” which becomes the favorite hymn of US President George W. Bush, and the source of the title for his campaign autobiography, A Charge to Keep
1771 moved back to Marylebone, London with family, where he and Sally had been married; overseas work of the London Methodists; sons Charles and Samuel were gifted prodigies, with Samuel compared to Mozart by contemporaries
1780 John published A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists, with many hymns by Charles; Charles’ published hymns, only a small portion of the more than 6,500 total, were published during his lifetime in 64 collections by the Wesleys
Mar 29, 1788 died, Marylebone, London, England; his final hymn was dictated to his wife on his deathbed:
In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a helpless worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope Thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart,
O, could I catch a smile from Thee
And drop into eternity!
Buried in the Marylebone Parish Church, London, an Anglican church; he did not wish to be buried in unconsecrated, Methodist ground; his gravestone reads:
HERE LIE THE REMAINS OF
THE REV. CHARLES WESLEY, M.A.
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 29TH MARCH 1788
AGED 80 YEARS.
WITH POVERTY OF SPIRIT BLESSED
REST HAPPY SAINT IN JESUS REST.
A SINNER SAVED THROUGH GRACE FORGIVEN
REDEEMED FROM EARTH TO REIGN IN HEAVEN.
AND LABOURS OF UNWEARIED LOVE
BY THEE FORGOT ARE CROWN’D ABOVE
CROWN’D THROUGH THE MERCY OF THY LORD
WITH A FREE FULL IMMENSE REWARD.
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During his adult life, Charles traveled, preached, wrote poetry and hymns, saw to the work of the Methodist societies, bands, and classes, and remained loyal to the Anglican Church until his death. He argued against John’s path of increasing separation from the Church of England that included ordaining ministers, sanctioning their offering the sacraments, and scheduling of worship services at the same hour as local Anglican churches.
He wrote more than 6,500 texts, including the poems and hymns. His range of poetic meters demanded the composition of new tunes and rhythms. His use of Scripture in his texts is unprecedented, with only the books of Obadiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, and Third John not used. The brothers published sixty-four collections of hymns between 1738 and 1785, many of which consisted of only Charles’ texts.
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This timeline may be reproduced and used in church bulletins, newsletters, or other church or educational use. Published by The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003. Website http://www.umcworship.org.