Charles Wesley (1707–1788) was one of the greatest hymn writers of all time, penning more than 6,000 hymns.
This year marks the 275th anniversary of his writing the Christmas carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” It has been rated in several polls as one of the five most popular carols of all time. Among Wesley’s other well-known hymns are “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”; “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”; “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”; and “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.”
Wesley was the 18th of 19 children born to Samuel and Susanna Wesley. He was born prematurely Dec. 18, 1707, in Epworth, England.
His mother, Susanna, who knew Greek, Latin and French, taught him and his siblings for six hours each day. He then attended Westminster School in London and college at Christ Church, Oxford, where he received his bachelor’s (1730) and master’s degree (1732).
At Oxford he and his brother, John, joined evangelist George Whitefield in forming the Oxford Holy Club. They became known as “Methodists” because of their methodical religious practices.
Charles was ordained in the Anglican church in 1735. He served for a brief time as a missionary in Georgia. Yet in his early years of ministry he had no assurance of his salvation. However, during a lingering illness he studied the epistle of Galatians, focusing on Galatians 2:20: “The Son of God … loved me and gave Himself for me.” After dwelling long on the word “me,” he believed in a personal faith in Christ and “rejoiced in the hope of loving Christ.” He dated his conversion to May 21, 1738, in London.
Soon afterward he wrote his first hymn, “Where Shall My Wondering Soul Begin?”
The next year he penned the beloved Christmas carol “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.” He wrote all his hymns to instruct converts in the great truths of the Christian faith and “Hark!” is rich in theological themes.
The lyrics were first published in 1739 in Hymns and Sacred Poems. Whitefield in 1753 changed Wesley’s original words “Glory to the King of kings” to “Glory to the newborn King.” Whitefield also cut out Wesley’s final 16 lines. Clergyman Martin Madan in 1767 also changed several words in the carol.
Wesley requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics. Thus the carol was originally sung to a different tune than today’s familiar one. In 1840, Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata to commemorate Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press. In 1855, English musician William Cummings adapted Mendelssohn’s upbeat music to fit the lyrics of the carol.
Other ministry work
Along with writing hymns Wesley served as a church minister and as an itinerant preacher for many years.
While preaching in Wales, 40-year-old Wesley met 20-year-old Sarah Gwynne. They were happily married for more than 40 years.
Wesley died in London on March 29, 1788, and was buried in Marylebone Anglican churchyard. His widow and four of their seven children survived him.
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