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Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include "And Can It Be", "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today", "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling", the carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", and "Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending".

Charles Wesley was born in Epworth, Lincolnshire, the son of Anglican cleric and poet Samuel Wesley and his wife Susanna. He was a younger brother of Methodist founder John Wesley and Anglican cleric Samuel Wesley the Younger, and he became the father of musician Samuel Wesley and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley.

He was educated at Oxford University, where his brothers had also studied, and he formed the "Holy Club" among his fellow students in 1729. John Wesley later joined this group, as did George Whitefield. Charles followed his father and brother into the church in 1735, and he travelled with John to Georgia in America, returning a year later. Following their evangelical conversions in 1738, the Wesley brothers travelled throughout Britain, converting followers to the Methodist revival through preaching and hymn-singing. In 1749, he married Sarah Gwynne, daughter of a Welsh gentleman who had been converted to Methodism by Howell Harris. From 1756 his ministry became more static and he ministered in Bristol, and later London.

Despite their closeness, Charles and John did not always agree on questions relating to their beliefs. In particular, Charles was strongly opposed to the idea of a breach with the Church of England into which they had been ordained.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 18, 1707 (North Lincolnshire), Died March 29, 1788 (London)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1897 - 1947

Roles Represented in DAHR: author, lyricist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-60 of 60 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick 2116 10-in. approximately Aug. 1918 Jesus lover of my soul Harry McClaskey ; Marie Morrisey Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra author  
Brunswick [Br cat 5190-a] 10-in. approximately Nov. 1917 Jesus, lover of my soul Henry Burr Male vocal solo, with orchestra author  
Brunswick 4696-4697 10-in. approximately Nov. 1920 Come Thou almighty King Collegiate Choir Mixed vocal ensemble, with orchestra lyricist  
Brunswick 6443-6446 10-in. approximately Sept. 1921 Hark! The herald angels sing All Soul's Choir Mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra author  
Brunswick E20090-E20091 10-in. 9/11/1926 Hark! The herald angels sing All Souls’ Choir Mixed vocal chorus, with orchestra author  
Brunswick IND666 10-in. 6/23/1928 Jesus, lover of my soul Uncle Dave Macon Male vocal solo, with banjo author  
Edison 2535 10-in. 10/28/1913 Love divine, all loves excelling Marie De Kyser ; Royal Fish Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra author  
Edison 2982 10-in. 4/2/1914 Love divine, all love excelling Vernon Archibald ; Helen Clark Female-male vocal duet, with orchestra author  
Edison 3719 10-in. 4/20/1915 Jesus, lover of my soul Metropolitan Quartet Mixed vocal quintet, with orchestra author  
Columbia (U.K.) CA14718 10-in. between July and November 1934 Hark! The herald angels sing B.B.C. Chorus ; Joseph Lewis ; Berkeley Mason Vocal chorus, with organ author  
(Results 51-60 of 60 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Wesley, Charles," accessed May 3, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101872.

Wesley, Charles. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 3, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101872.

"Wesley, Charles." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101872

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