Charles Wesley is the author of some of the most prevalent hymns in the church. Though originally Methodist, his hymns are now used in many denominations as they speak profound truths about God. Many of his songs will likely be familiar to you already, including O for a Thousand Tongues, Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed, Christ the Lord Is Risen Today, and Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.
Charles Wesley was born in 1707 to Samuel and Susannah Wesley in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England. After surviving infancy (as he spent weeks very sick), he grew up with his siblings being educated by their mother, studying Greek, Latin, and French. At just nine years old, Wesley entered Westminster School in London and lived with his oldest brother. After thirteen years studying there, he moved on to Oxford (where his brother John was) at age 22 and stayed for nine years earning his masters.
Wesley experienced a much more worldly environment than he was comfortable with at Oxford. To counter this, he and a few friends started the "Holy Club". They would attend communion weekly, rise early, study the Bible, and visit prisons. Other students at Oxford came to call them "Methodists" due to there strict following of these commitments. John Wesley would later take over leadership of the group.
After graduating, Charles and John Wesley were ordained and set sail for Georgia, America, with the desire to evangelize the natives. The disappointment of this trip led them both to examine their faith and become saved with the understanding that they could not earn salvation by anything they could do. It was by grace through faith in Christ alone.
Charles Wesley's first hymn was written two days after his conversion. He later married and had three children, and continued traveling and writing throughout much of his life. He passed away in 1788 at 80 years old. All of the events in his life show the amazing handiwork of God and led to Wesley having an impact on the lives of many thousands of people. It is said that he preached to 150,000 people in his lifetime and wrote 6,500 hymns. His words are still impacting countless lives today.
Information adapted from:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-Wesle...
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/charles-wes...
https://www.gotquestions.org/Charles-Wesley.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Wesley
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