Charles Wesley family papers

Charles Wesley family papers

Consists of the correspondence and other unpublished manuscripts of the Methodist leader Charles Wesley and his family.

The collection consists of materials relating to Charles Wesley and the Wesley family from 1740-1864. The materials include correspondence and writings. The correspondence of Sarah Wesley (b. 1760) is with family and friends (mostly with her mother, Sarah G. Wesley, and her brother, Samuel Wesley) and pertains to family activities, travel, and beliefs. A later addition of correspondence between Charles Wesley and organist John Langshaw, pertains to Methodism, the American Revolution, and London musicians and music teachers. Other materials include Sarah Wesley's personal writings, Sarah G. Wesley's poetic psalms, and a manuscript version of Charles Wesley's poetic version of the Psalms. The greater part of the volume is in the hand of John Perronet, an associate of Wesley. The last twelve pages are in Wesley's hand.

Charles Wesley, an English clergyman, poet, and hymn writer, was born at Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, on December 18, 1707. He was the youngest son of Samuel and Susanna Wesley and the brother of John Wesley. In 1726 he entered Christ Church College, Oxford. During his time there he formed the Holy Club, a group dedicated to a methodical approach to Bible study and charitable works. The group, later taken over by John Wesley, was ridiculed and derisively referred to as the "Methodists." In 1735 Charles was ordained an Anglican priest and, at John's insistence, sailed with him to the colony of Georgia. Once there he became private secretary to General James Oglethorpe. Charles returned to England in 1736 because of health problems and his inability to carry out his assigned duties. Wesley experienced a religious conversion in 1738 and began preaching in London churches. His evangelical style angered church officials, and by 1739 he was barred from the pulpit. For the next ten years Charles was an itinerate preacher and traveled constantly with his brother John. Following his marriage to Sarah Gwynn in 1749 he stopped traveling and spent his time overseeing Methodist places of worship in London. Charles remained faithful to the Church of England and was angered when John began ordaining preachers for service in Scotland and America. Charles Wesley's most significant contribution was in his hymns. He published more than 4,500 hymns and left some 3,000 in manuscript. Among his best known hymns are "Love divine, all loves excelling"; "Hark the herald angels sing" and "Rejoice the Lord is king." He died in London on March 29, 1788. This collection also contains materials by other members of Charles Wesley's family: Sarah Gwynne Wesley (1726-1822), the wife of Charles Wesley. Sarah and Charles had three children: Charles Wesley, Jr. (1757-1834), Sarah Wesley (1760-1828), and Samuel Wesley (1766-1837). Samuel Wesley's (1766-1837) children include Charles Wesley, D.D. (1793-1859) and Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876). Charles Wesley, D. D. was Subdean of the Chapel Royal at St. James Palace, London. He was the son of Samuel and Charlotte Wesley. Samuel Sebastian Wesley was an organist and composer. He was the son of Samuel Wesley and Sarah Suter.

2.5 cubic feet

visible