Who was John Wesley?
Religious Reformer.
Date and Place of Birth:
17th June 1703, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England.
Family Background:
Son of a Rector.
Education:
Charterhouse, London. Christchurch College, Oxford.
Chronology/Biography of John Wesley:
1725: Ordained as
an Deacon.
1726: Became a Fellow
of Lincoln College and a lecturer in Greek.
1728: Ordained as
a priest. At Oxford the group which he lead, which had grown up
round his brother Charles Wesley were given the nickname the Oxford
Methodists
1730: James Hervey
and George Whirefield joined the Methodist group.
1735: Death of their
father. John and Charles went on a missionary journey to Georgia,
USA, but they were not made welcome by the Colonists and eventually
returned to England in 1738.
1738: John met Peter
Bohler of the Moravians who became a big influence on him and he
attended Moravian meetings in Aldersgate Street, London. At one
of these he became convinced of salvation whilst listening to Martin
Luther's preface to the Epistle of the Romans. His new energy to
bring the idea of salvation to others caused consternation amongst
the local population and in particular the clergy who closed their
pulpits to him.
1739: He founded
his first Methodist Chapel at Bristol and he bought a foundry in
Moorfields, London where he also set up a chapel. This building
became his headquarters. Up to 30,000 people would wait to hear
him preach here and he became particularly important to, and loved
by, the labouring classes. He began to travel widely, (He covered
over 250,00 miles and preached over 40,000 sermons in his life).
1743: John Nelson
and John Downes, two of his advance agents went to Trewint in Cornwall
and took refreshment at the house of Digory Isbell a stonemason.
Digory was not in at the time but the strangers antics and prayers
caused Elizabeth to relate the story to Digory.
1744: John himself
was entertained in the house at Trewint by Digory who set up a Prophet's
Chamber in his honour. Trewint became a flourishing Methodist Society.
1745: He broke with
the Moravians as he was determined that his movement should remain
within the Church of England which it did for the rest of his life.
1761: Sunday May
31st. Wesley is recorded as preaching morning and evening at St
Peter's Church, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, one of several days he
preached there between 1742 and 1768. He was always received enthusiastically
here unlike other parts of the country. St Peter's is well known
for its association with the Venerable Bede.
1776: His wife Mary
left him.
1778: Founded the
Methodist Magazine and was responsible for writing many other works
such as histories, biographies and collections of psalms and hymns.
These works were all very popular and the money made in royalties
all went to charity. He founded charitable institutions in Newcastle
and London and founded the Kingswood School in Bristol.
Written Works:
- 1739:
“Hymns and Sacred Poems”.
- 1744:
“A Collection of Psalms and Hymns”.
- 1771:
“Collected Prose Work”.
- 1788: “A
Collection of Psalms and Hymns”. (Updated).
Marriage:
1751 to Mary Vazeille a widow.
Places of Interest:
AVON:
Lodged at 2 Broad Street when visiting Bath.
Laid foundation stone of Methodist Chapel in New King Street in
1777.
CORNWALL:
John Wesley Museum and Prayer Rooms, Trewint.
LONDON:
John Wesley Chapel, Finsbury.
Date and Place of Death:
2nd March 1791, London, England.
Age at Death:
87.
Site of Grave:
John Wesley Chapel, City Road, Finsbury, London,
England.
