Mel Bay's Creative Keyboard® Webzine | Gail Smith - Remembering CHARLES WESLEY'S 300th Birthday

Remembering CHARLES WESLEY'S 300th Birthday

Charles Wesley, the Methodist Music Man, was born on December 18, 1707. He was the 18^th child born to Susanna and Samuel Wesley and the 9^th to survive infancy although because he was born premature, it had been doubtful that he would survive. When Charles was eighteen months old there was a terrible fire that broke out in their rural Epworth Rectory. The family was asleep but quickly escaped the fire. Charles was grabbed and shielded by a servant girl who carried him to safety. The house and everything was destroyed. Tough times fell on the family.

At age eight, Charles was enrolled at Westminster School in London. When he was thirteen he became a King's Scholar at Westminster and when he graduated Charles enrolled at Oxford. He lived in a century of religious awakening. and was one of the prominent leaders. Charles was a remarkable musician, poet, and preacher. As the Methodist religious movement spread across England, Charles traveled by horseback from place to place as an itinerant, homeless evangelist. His fiery preaching brought large crowds. In 1735 Charles accompanied his brother John on a missionary journey to America. While in Georgia, Charles became the secretary to Governor Oglethorpe. The Wesley brothers returned to England a year later. Their dear mother died on July 23^rd, 1742. Her last words were, "Children, as soon as I am released, sing a psalm of praise to God."

While Charles was preaching in Wales he met Sally Gwynne, a beautiful lady half his age. He wanted to marry her but was virtually penniless and had no way to support a family. He decided to publish a hymn book, Hymns and Sacred poems, as well as his sermons, hoping to provide an income. Charles and Sally were married on April 8, 1749. Charles wrote in his journal that day . . ."Not a cloud was to be seen from morning till night. I rose at four, spent three hours and a half in prayer or singing.at eight I led my Sally to church."

Charles continued to preach, counsel, keep Methodism within the Church of England, all while writing poems and hymns. By 1788 he was confined to bed from fatigue. By March he was too weak to write so he dictated his last hymn to Sally:

In age and feebleness extreme, Who shall a sinful worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope Thou art, strength of my failing flesh and heart;
Oh, could I catch a smile from Thee, and drop into eternity

Charles Wesley died on March 29, 1788 in Marylebone when he was 80 years old. He wrote over six thousand five hundred hymns. Some of the most familiar are:
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Christ the Lord is Risen Today; And Can It Be That I Should Gain?; Jesus, Lover of My Soul and O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing.

This year is the 300^th Anniversary of his birth. Plan a church festival singing all the hymns in your church hymnal or have a piano recital having each one of your students play one of the hymns of Charles Wesley

Several books published by Mel Bay include hymns by Charles Wesley:
Hymns Made Easy Book Three contains, "O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing" p.22
You Can Teach Yourself Gospel Piano contains, "Jesus, Lover Of My Soul" p.66
The Complete Church Pianist and Sunday Morning Pianist have several others.

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