1703-1791. English founder of Methodism. When
the pulpits of the Church of England were
closed to him and his followers, he took the
gospel to the people. For 50 years he rode
about the country on horseback, preaching
daily, largely in the open air. His sermons
became the doctrinal standard of the Wesleyan
Methodist Church. He was born at Epworth,
Lincolnshire, where his father was the
rector, and went to Oxford University
together with his brother Charles, where
their circle was nicknamed Methodists because
of their religious observances. He was
ordained in the Church of England in 1728 and
returned to his Oxford college in 1729 as a
tutor. In 1735 he went to Georgia, USA, as a
missionary. On his return he experienced
`conversion' in 1738, and from being rigidly
High Church developed into an ardent
Evangelical. His Journal gives an intimate
picture of the man and his work. Wesley went
to Oxford University together with his
brother Charles, where their circle was
nicknamed Methodists because of their
religious observances. He was ordained in the
Church of England in 1728 and in 1735 he went
to the American colony of Georgia as a
missionary. On his return he experienced
`conversion' in 1738, and from being rigidly
High Church developed into an ardent
Evangelical.