John WesleyJohn Wesley1703-17911703-1791

The year 2003 marks the 300th The year 2003 marks the 300th anniversary of John Wesley’s birth.anniversary of John Wesley’s birth.

John Wesley was born on June 17, 1703 to Rev. John Wesley was born on June 17, 1703 to Rev. Samuel and Susanna Wesley. He was one of their Samuel and Susanna Wesley. He was one of their 19 children, though only half lived past infancy.19 children, though only half lived past infancy.

An important event happened An important event happened in 1709, when Wesley was in 1709, when Wesley was barely rescued from a fire that barely rescued from a fire that burned down their home. He burned down their home. He was considered a “brand was considered a “brand plucked from the burning,” plucked from the burning,” and believed his life had a and believed his life had a special calling.special calling.

He went to school in London at age 11, and then went to He went to school in London at age 11, and then went to Oxford for college where he received his B.A. in 1724. Oxford for college where he received his B.A. in 1724. He was ordained a deacon in 1725 and then a priest in 1727He was ordained a deacon in 1725 and then a priest in 1727after getting his M.A..after getting his M.A..

As a Fellow of Oxford, he As a Fellow of Oxford, he joined his brother Charles’ joined his brother Charles’ Holy Club in 1729. These Holy Club in 1729. These were a group of men that were a group of men that maintained strict rules of maintained strict rules of study, prayer, and service. study, prayer, and service. The were also called Bible The were also called Bible Moths and Methodists.Moths and Methodists.The Holy Club

In 1736, John and his brother Charles volunteered to go In 1736, John and his brother Charles volunteered to go to the newly formed colony of Georgia in America. to the newly formed colony of Georgia in America. They envisioned themselves as evangelists to the noble They envisioned themselves as evangelists to the noble native people. Instead, they found themselves working as native people. Instead, they found themselves working as secretaries; and their strict attitudes made their dealingssecretaries; and their strict attitudes made their dealingswith the colonists difficult. with the colonists difficult. Charles returned home after Charles returned home after only a few months. John stayedonly a few months. John stayedtwo years, but was plagued bytwo years, but was plagued bytroubles. Although he felt thattroubles. Although he felt thathe had not accomplished his he had not accomplished his goal, his interaction with the goal, his interaction with the Moravians would help him to Moravians would help him to find the inner peace that was find the inner peace that was missing in his life.missing in his life.

Coastal Georgia

Upon his return, he continued to learn from Moravians, Upon his return, he continued to learn from Moravians, including Peter Böhler. Because of his views, churches began including Peter Böhler. Because of his views, churches began to refuse him permission to preach from their pulpits. to refuse him permission to preach from their pulpits. On May 24, 1738, an important change occurred while visiting On May 24, 1738, an important change occurred while visiting a service on Aldersgate Street. He later related his experience a service on Aldersgate Street. He later related his experience as follows.as follows.

““About a quarter before nine, while he About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away given me that he had taken away mymy sins, even sins, even minemine, and saved , and saved meme from the from the law of sin and death.”law of sin and death.”

The next significant change occurred The next significant change occurred when John traveled to Bristol in 1739. when John traveled to Bristol in 1739. He was taking over from George He was taking over from George Whitefield, who was heading for Georgia. Whitefield, who was heading for Georgia. Following Whitefield’s example, he Following Whitefield’s example, he began preaching outdoors. He preached a began preaching outdoors. He preached a simple message to average people, and simple message to average people, and the crowds increased steadily.the crowds increased steadily.

He soon started work on a He soon started work on a meeting place, which was meeting place, which was completed in 1745. It is completed in 1745. It is known as the New Room.known as the New Room.

The New RoomThe New Room

As people gathered to hear him, they would form themselvesAs people gathered to hear him, they would form themselvesinto societies. These societies would further be divided into into societies. These societies would further be divided into bands and classes for discussion and support.bands and classes for discussion and support.

In 1744, the first Methodist Conference was held. They In 1744, the first Methodist Conference was held. They discussed doctrine and rules. Our General and Annual discussed doctrine and rules. Our General and Annual Conferences are the modern descendants of this first Conference.Conferences are the modern descendants of this first Conference.

Wesley was a prolific writer … producing 400 works. ManyWesley was a prolific writer … producing 400 works. Manyof them were related to the Bible and Christianity. They included of them were related to the Bible and Christianity. They included 23 collections of hymns, sermons, a magazine, and many others.23 collections of hymns, sermons, a magazine, and many others.

He kept a journal from 1735 to He kept a journal from 1735 to 1790 which details the trials 1790 which details the trials and tribulations of his and tribulations of his interesting life. He also wrote interesting life. He also wrote some non-religious books, some non-religious books, such as his such as his Primitive PhysicPrimitive Physic … … a guide to cures for a variety of a guide to cures for a variety of medical conditions from medical conditions from baldness to cancer. His books baldness to cancer. His books were always sold cheaply, so were always sold cheaply, so that even the poor could buy that even the poor could buy them.them.

Over the coming decades, Over the coming decades, Wesley would travel Wesley would travel thousands of miles thousands of miles preaching the Word. preaching the Word. Methodist societies Methodist societies sprang up across the sprang up across the United Kingdom and in United Kingdom and in other areas that Wesleyother areas that Wesleyvisited. By the end of his visited. By the end of his life in 1791, there were life in 1791, there were over 70,000 Wesleyan over 70,000 Wesleyan Methodists in England Methodists in England … … and thousands more and thousands more in America.in America.

In 1751, Wesley married a widow, Mary Vazeille. His experienceIn 1751, Wesley married a widow, Mary Vazeille. His experiencewith women had been difficult. From his college days, to Sophia with women had been difficult. From his college days, to Sophia Hopkey in Georgia, to Grace Murray … he struggled with the ideaHopkey in Georgia, to Grace Murray … he struggled with the ideathat his ministry came before marriage. He finally changed histhat his ministry came before marriage. He finally changed hismind, and thought that he should get married. But the marriage mind, and thought that he should get married. But the marriage wasn’t a happy one. Although Marywasn’t a happy one. Although Marypledged to allow him to continue pledged to allow him to continue his preaching and traveling, it his preaching and traveling, it wasn’t long before she had changed wasn’t long before she had changed her mind. She objected to his way her mind. She objected to his way of life, and was jealous of attention of life, and was jealous of attention given to other women … even if it given to other women … even if it was only in the Christian spirit. was only in the Christian spirit. They separated and she moved They separated and she moved away in 1771.away in 1771.

Mary Vazeille Wesley

In the 1760s, Methodist preaching began in America under the In the 1760s, Methodist preaching began in America under the leadership of lay persons. In 1769, Wesley started sendingleadership of lay persons. In 1769, Wesley started sendingministers to the New World. But when the Revolution began, all ministers to the New World. But when the Revolution began, all but Francis Asbury returned to England. Still, under Asbury’s but Francis Asbury returned to England. Still, under Asbury’s leadership and lay preachers, the number of Methodist followersleadership and lay preachers, the number of Methodist followers

had tripled by the end of the war. had tripled by the end of the war.

In 1784, the Methodist Episcopal In 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in the United Church was formed in the United States. At the Christmas States. At the Christmas Conference that year, they Conference that year, they approved Wesley’s Articles of approved Wesley’s Articles of Religion and started sending Religion and started sending circuit riders to the ends circuit riders to the ends of civilization and beyond.of civilization and beyond.

Francis Asbury

Following the example of Wesley in England, American Following the example of Wesley in England, American Methodist pastors were sent out to cover circuits … several Methodist pastors were sent out to cover circuits … several charges in different locations. Their usual mode of transportation charges in different locations. Their usual mode of transportation was the horse, and they became known as Circuit Riders. was the horse, and they became known as Circuit Riders.

The first Methodist society The first Methodist society in Louisiana was formed in in Louisiana was formed in 1806 in the Opelousas area. 1806 in the Opelousas area. By the mid-19th century, By the mid-19th century, the Methodist Episcopal the Methodist Episcopal Church was the largest Church was the largest Protestant denomination in Protestant denomination in the U.S. with over four the U.S. with over four million members.million members.

The Circuit Rider

John Benjamin Wesley John Benjamin Wesley passed away on March 2, passed away on March 2, 1791. As his friends 1791. As his friends gathered around him, he gathered around him, he lifted his arms and said, lifted his arms and said, “Best of all God is with us.”“Best of all God is with us.”

The next morning he passed The next morning he passed away. He was buried next away. He was buried next door in the cemetery behind door in the cemetery behind City Road Chapel.City Road Chapel.

City Road Chapel, London

Wesley’s Main ConcernsWesley’s Main Concerns

• Justification by faithJustification by faith• Free willFree will• Authority of the ScripturesAuthority of the Scriptures• Helping those in needHelping those in need

John Wesley never intended John Wesley never intended to start a new denomination. to start a new denomination. He remained a priest in the He remained a priest in the Church of England and Church of England and considered himself an considered himself an Anglican. His followers in Anglican. His followers in England had to wait until his England had to wait until his death to start the Methodist death to start the Methodist Church in that country. Church in that country.

Just as Christ came to “fix” the Jewish faith, Wesley wanted to Just as Christ came to “fix” the Jewish faith, Wesley wanted to ““fix” the Church of England. In both cases, the differences fix” the Church of England. In both cases, the differences were so great that new denominations formed.were so great that new denominations formed.

John Wesley’s influence has John Wesley’s influence has touched the world for the touched the world for the past three centuries. Today, past three centuries. Today, there are millions of people there are millions of people in denominations based on in denominations based on his work. In the U.S. the his work. In the U.S. the largest group is The Unitedlargest group is The UnitedMethodist Church, with over Methodist Church, with over 8 million members in over 8 million members in over 35,000 churches. Numerous 35,000 churches. Numerous Methodist organizations Methodist organizations help the world through help the world through education, health care, and education, health care, and mission work.mission work.

For more information on John Wesley, For more information on John Wesley, his life, and Methodismhis life, and Methodism, , check out our check out our

Conference Archives & History website at:Conference Archives & History website at:

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This presentation created by Tim Hebert, Chair, Commission on Archives & History, Louisiana Conference, UMC.Feel free to use it and share it with others.