Charles Wesley was definitely a messenger of God, having written over 6500 hymns, each of which gave and still delivers a soulful rendering of his ideas and thoughts, as well as an easy manner to communicate the truths of the Gospel. Coming from a household where his father was a rector, Charles was a natural fit for the priesthood. However, the road was not easy for him, as he was discouraged and depressed by people’s rejection of his beliefs. Charles, on the other hand, soon experienced a conversion that not only changed him, but also made preaching a lot easier. He quickly followed George Whitefield’s open-air preaching approach, which led to the creation of the Methodist Christian denomination, of which he was a founding member. Charles Wesley quickly educated the uninitiated about the Gospel through his hymns. His hymns are still popular in Methodist circles today. They’re from the Methodist hymn collection ‘Hymns and Psalms.’ Many of his hymns have been translated into other languages and have served as the foundation for Methodist hymnals such as the Swedish Metodist-Episkopal-Kyrkans Psalmbok, which was published in Stockholm in 1892.
Childhood and Adolescence
Charles Wesley was the youngest son and eighteenth child of Susanna and Samuel Wesley, who had nineteen children in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England. Only eleven of their children lived to adulthood.
His father was a Church of England minister. Wesley was impacted greatly by his mother, who instilled in all of her children the value of self-control and discipline in life. She also provided them with basic education.
In 1716, he enrolled at London’s Westminster School. He was admitted to Christ Church, where his elder brother John had been studying, ten years later.
In 1727, while still at Oxford, he founded a prayer club with fellow students. Holy Club was the name given to the group. John, his brother, joined the gang in 1729, eventually becoming its leader and molding it to his own goals.
The group met on a regular basis to carry out their social responsibilities. They also adhered to a thorough Bible study and lived a holy disciplined life. Fellow students dubbed them “Methodists” because of their systematic approach and extraordinarily regimented lifestyle.
During this time, he met George Whitfield, who later joined the group. The latter was pivotal in the founding of what became known as the Methodist movement.
He earned a Master’s degree in ancient languages and literature in 1735 and followed in the footsteps of his father and brother by joining the Church. Along with his brother John, he set out for the Georgia Colony in British America.
He took up the position of Secretary of Indian Affairs to Governor-General James Oglethorpe in Savannah. His preaching and train of thought, on the other hand, were not well received by those who opposed his message. In 1736, he embarked on a journey backward to England, dejected and despondent.
A Later Years
In both brothers, the depressed attitude and dismal style of life gave way to a vibrant approach, which was further boosted by a newfound passion for preaching the Gospel principles in a fresh way.
Around this time, he began writing hymns, for which he became famous all over the world. He radically changed his preaching technique. He sang poetic hymns wherever he found a group of people, rather than urging people to walk down to a nearby Church and be influenced by the words of the Gospel.
George Whitfield pioneered open-air preaching, which quickly gained a large following. As the number of converts grew, they were organized into societies to further their faith and belief.
Whitefield and John were in charge of organizing the developing Methodist movement in England when they left for America. The brothers began spreading the word by traveling to other regions of the kingdom, including London, Bristol, and New Castle, as well as Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.
He had time for meditation and produced many of the Methodist hymns that he sang to people to preach the Gospel while traveling long distances. These hymns are still performed by Methodists today.
They traveled to Cornwall in 1743 and had a mixed reception. While some readily accepted their point of view and beliefs, others were so opposed to the preaching that riots broke out, forcing the brothers to flee.
Because the majority of the Church was opposed to their preaching style, the brothers needed to establish a single location that could serve as a base for the societies they formed. In 1739, they established the Foundery as a platform for their activities with the help of friends. After then, there was a third one in Bristol.
Later, as he rejected John’s line of conduct that removed the Methodists from the Church of England, rather than being a revival part of it, there was friction between the two brothers. The chasm widened, even more, when John insisted on traveling and preaching despite Charles’ fragile health.
In 1756, he stopped traveling and devoted his efforts to hymn writing. He even took up a preaching and pastoral ministry position, first in Bristol and then in London.
Personal History and Legacy
He married Sarah Gwynne, the daughter of rich Welsh magistrate Marmaduke Gwynne, in 1749. She joined him and John on their evangelistic tours until 1753 and was affectionately known as Sally.
Only three of their eight children lived to see adulthood. Both of his sons, Charles Jr. and Samuel, inherited their father’s musical aptitude and went on to become some of the world’s most accomplished musicians.
The family lived in Bristol at first, then moved to London in 1778, where they remained until the nineteenth century. The Bristol house is still standing today.
During his later years, he suffered from nervous weariness and acute depression as a result of his many journeys and tough life. He died on March 29, 1788, and is buried in the Marylebone Parish Church churchyard, as he requested.
His legacy lives on as he is remembered every year on March 2 in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Calendar of Saints. He is also remembered on March 3rd in the Episcopal Church’s Calendar of Saints, March 24th in the Anglican calendar, and March 29th in The Order of Saint Luke’s Calendar of Commemorations.
He was admitted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame by the Gospel Music Association in 1995, as a means of recognizing his musical talents, considering his long list of captivating and enduring hymnody.
His hymns have been featured on television in a variety of shows, including ‘South Park’ and ‘The Simpsons.’ They’ve also been covered by a wide range of musicians, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and Mariah Carey.
Those wishing to train as Methodist preachers must still be familiar with his hymns.
‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing,’ his most renowned hymn, is played everywhere from cathedrals to supermarkets.
On his 300th birthday in 2007, the Irish postal service honored him by issuing a 78c stamp in his honor.
Estimated Net worth
Charles is one of the wealthiest religious leaders and one of the most well-known. Charles Wesley’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.
Trivia
He was one of the Methodist denomination’s founding fathers, and he became famous for penning songs, some of which are included in the Methodist hymn book ‘Hymns and Psalms.’ From churches to supermarkets, his hymn “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is played.