Here are some program notes:
Charles
Wesley (1707-1788) and his brother John (1703-1791), sons of an
Anglican minister (Samuel), both trained for ministry at Oxford
University. While there, they were labeled (somewhat derisively)
"methodists" because of the strict regimen of spiritual exercises and
scholarship that they developed. After a short unsuccessful stint as
missionaries to the ColoniesGeorgia, specificallythey returned home to
England, frustrated in their spiritual lives. In an interesting
parallel to John Newtons life, it was during the sea voyage that seeds
were planted, as they watched a group of Moravians experiencing amazing
peace during rough seas. Shortly thereafter they experienced spiritual
rebirth, and the rest is historywith Johns preaching and Charles
hymn-writing becoming the catalyst for a great revival that swept across
England. John wrote a few hymns himself, but mainly translated Moravian
hymns from German and edited hymnbooks. Charles, on the other hand,
wrote almost 9,000 poems, of which some 6,500 were hymn texts. This
prodigious output earned him the posthumous title: "sweet bard of
Methodism." His many hymns still in use today include "A Charge to Keep I
Have," "Arise, My Soul, Arise," "Soldiers of Christ, Arise," "Christ
the Lord Is Risen Today," "Rejoice, the Lord Is King," "O For a Thousand
Tongues to Sing," "Celebrate Immanuels Name," "Jesus, Lover of My
Soul," "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus," and "Ye Servants of God."
Days
before his death at the age of 81, Charles preached in the City Road
Chapel, London. The hymn preceding his sermon was Isaac Watts "Ill
Praise My Maker While Ive Breath." Falling critically ill the next day,
he amazed those around him by singing that entire hymn with a strong
voice. Later that week he died, with that same hymn forming his last
words.
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Lyndell Leatherman, ASCAP