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When John Wesley first came to Bristol in 1739 he constructed a meeting house on this site which he called the new room. Later, it was enlarged to include this gallery chapel and living quarters were constructed above. Although the name out front bears the name John Wesley.

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Charles Wesley himself was connected with this building quite often in the 1st 22 years of his ministry here. When Charles Wesley preached in this meeting house, he preached from the large pulpit behind me. But when he led singing, when he led the congregation and the singing

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of his own hymns, he was standing on this spot and many of the greatest hymns ever written in the history of the Christian world were first sung by this congregation in this room, led by Charles Wesley from this spot for the first time in history. A

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group of believers s Christ, the Lord is risen today. Hallelujah, or soldiers of Christ arise and put your armor on or oh for 1000 tongues to sing this side surely is sacred to the history of Christian hymns. I

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regard Charles Wesley as the greatest hymn writer, not merely, of course, in quantity, six or 7000 hymns, but in quality and in the spread of their use throughout the world, who doesn't know Hark, the Herald Angels sing. Actually, he wrote a slightly different first line that

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was altered. Who doesn't know love, divine? All loves excelling through the English speaking world. They are the great hymns. Charles Wesley has rightly been described as the Prince of English hymn writers. More of his hymns are sung today than those of any other single author. Estimates

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vary as to exactly how many hymns he wrote. But we do know that his total output was around 8989 religious poems of which over 6000 can properly be classified as hymns. What I have found is that the older a hymn is the better, it seems to

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wear the passage of time while many 19th century hymns now sound somewhat dated when we sing them. I find when I'm choosing hymns for a service on a Sunday that the hymns of Watts and Wesley still ring as true today as they ever did and are

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in language that is still as easy to understand as it ever was. It would be difficult to imagine an Easter morning without the singing of this great resurrection hymn. Wherever you go in the English speaking world, this hymn is known and Loved Christ. The Lord is

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risen today. Hallelujah. Yeah. Um uh very i the writer of this powerful and immortal hymn was Charles Wesley, together with his older brother John Wesley. Charles is remembered today as one of the founders of the

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Methodist church, but perhaps he is remembered even more as one of the greatest and most prolific hymn writers in the English language like others in their generation, Charles and John were deeply influenced by the celebrated Isaac Watts. The father of the English hymn. Shortly after their

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spiritual awakening in the spring of 1738 when they were in their early 30 s, the brothers determined to meet Dr Watts who was then 64 years old and living in retirement. The historic date was Wednesday, October 4, 1738 and the place was Abney House, the residence

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of Doctor Watts at Stoke Newington, north of London. As far as we know, this was the only time that Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts ever met in his journal, Charles recorded that their two hour meeting with the famed hymn writer began at 130 in the afternoon.

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He wrote that the three men walked arm in arm through the gardens and sang hymns together. It is probable that they sang several Watts hymns like, oh God, our help in ages passed and come ye that love the Lord. This meeting had a profound effect on

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both John and Charles. And in Charles's case, it undoubtedly encouraged him to pursue his own hymn writing with Renewed Fervor Charles Wesley was born here in the Lincolnshire village of Epworth on December 18th 1707. He was the next to youngest child of Samuel and

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Susannah Wesley Samuel was the rector of the parish church. The old rectory where Charles spent his childhood days is today a museum that honors the two famous brothers. One of the well informed staff members that welcomes visitors from around the world is Janet Goodwin. You're in

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the old rectory at which was the childhood home of the Wesley. But the Wesley boys were not born in this actual house. They were born in an old thatched and wood rectory, which was on the same side, but this rectory was burned down completely in 1709.

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And this is when John was so miraculously rescued and then Samuel, the father managed to get the money to rebuild the house on the same site in the same year. And the family then lived here until 1735 Charles and John lived here until they went off

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to boarding school. They were educated in this house until that time biographers agree that it would be difficult to overestimate the influence of Susannah Wesley on both the intellectual and spiritual development of her sons among other things. It is said of Susannah that she taught her

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Children how to sing. But Susannah of course, educated the Children until they went the boys until they went off to boarding school. And so Charles would take his turn along with the other Children Susannah kept them back in here each evening after their evening meal. In

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turn, sometimes two Children, sometimes one. And she would give them that extra spiritual teaching, which she was well renowned for. And then Charles would have his formal education in the schoolroom next door, three hours in the morning, three hours in an afternoon, he would learn his

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methodical way of living from his mother in this house. In 1726 Charles received a scholarship to attend Christchurch College at Oxford University where his brother John was already a student. It was here while they pursued their studies that they joined others in forming what became known

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as the Holy Club. The purpose of the association was to make better use of their time in a disciplined and methodical study of the scriptures and in prayer. Among those in the club was a young man named George Whitfield, who was destined to become associated with

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the Wesley's in their early evangelistic efforts and who later became a celebrated evangelist of the great awakening in America. Charles remained in Oxford long enough to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree. Following their graduation, the brothers embarked on a voyage to America in October 1735.

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It was on this journey that they met several members of a group called the Moravian brethren and were greatly impressed by their hymn singing and their devotion to God. The next year in 1736 the Wesley's returned to England back in London, Charles met and was profoundly

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influenced by three individuals. The first was William Law whose book, a serious call to a devout and holy life was enjoying a wide circulation. The second was Count Zinzendorf, an Austrian nobleman who was the leader of the Moravians. And the third was Peter Bowler who became

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one of Charles closest friends. It was Bowler who once said to Charles, if I had 1000 tongues, I would use them all to praise my Savior. Charles never forgot that statement. And several years later, he wrote a hymn that echoed the prayer, oh, for 1000 tongues

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to sing my great redeemer's praise. I think one of Charles Wesley's greatest and most typical hymns is over 1000 tongues to sing, typical both in your country and here over 1000 tongues to sing my great redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and king, the triumphs

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of his grace. People say Wesley is difficult, but it is plain English. Hear him, ye deaf, his praise. Ye done your ransom tongues employ and so on a very straightforward account of the fundamental Christian experience, a wonderful hymn. Not long after their return to England, the

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Wesley brothers experienced a spiritual awakening in the spring of 1738. Just three days apart. Both brothers recorded powerful encounters with God encounters that were so profound that both then and in later years, they looked back upon them as conversion experiences. Charles recorded in his journal that

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one of those whom God used to influence him was a quiet man named John Bray. Charles wrote God sent Mr Bray a poor ignorant mechanic who knows nothing but Christ. Yet by knowing Him knows and discerns all things. It was praying with mister Bray that brought

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Charles to the threshold of his conversion experience on Sunday. May 21 1738 in the midst of sensing the presence of God Charles reached for his Bible and opened it to a text in the Psalms that seemed to be prophetic. He has put a new song in

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my mouth. Even a thanksgiving unto our God. Many shall see it in fear and shall put their trust in the Lord. This proved to be the turning point of his career. The flood gates were open over the remaining 50 years of his life. He would write

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more than 6000 hymns looking for a place to serve the attention of the Wesley's was drawn to Bristol where George Whitfield was preaching to large crowds in open air meetings. They moved there in 1739 and built a chapel in a marketplace called the horse fair. They

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called the chapel, the new room. And today it is preserved as a museum. What about soldiers of Christ arise? Is that one sung much anymore? Uh There are those who dislike the military metaphor, but of course, you find it in the Bible. But on the whole

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Armor of God. It is. It, it is sung. It's a vigorous hymn. No surprise. In the same. That, oh, I mean, my friend. Oh, ok. Mhm. What was it? Yes, that right. Oh. Oh, start you, um.

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Oh, excellent hymns. Played a great role in my childhood. My mother often used to sit down at the piano on a Sunday and play hymns. She was the organist at the church where my father was the pastor. My father had certain favorite hymns which he used

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to pick when he was conducting the service. I remember one was Wesley's hymn, a charge to keep I have uh a God to glorify a never dying soul to save and fit it for the sky. Those hymns which I saying perhaps unconsciously uh as a youngster

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now are much more important in my own prayer life and so on Newton Cooper over a closer walk with God. Um But Charles Wesley John Wesley, I mean some of those hymns really now are the, the, the ones that come to me when I'm overjoyed or

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under stress or whatever it is during the exciting and productive years of preaching and hymn writing in Bristol. Charles was a guest of Marmaduke Gwynn, the Squire of Garth in South Central Wales. And it was here at the Squire's mansion known as Garth House that he

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met Gwen's daughter. Sarah. This introduction led to a relationship that soon ripened into romance on a return visit to Garth house when he was courting Sarah, whom he called. Sally. Charles is reported to have written one of his most famous hymns. This is Garth House in

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South Central Wales where Charles Wesley courted Sarah Gwen. And this bedroom is the traditional site of the writing of the hymn Jesus Lover of my soul. The owners now are M Scott and Kate Wilson and Kate. I'm interested in hearing your version of the story. What

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happened in this room at this window? Well, my version of the story is that there was a thunderstorm and during this thunderstorm, a robin came rushing in here flying in here and took refuge against the window sill crouching underneath the little edge there. And that inspired

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Charles Wesley to write Dizzy Lover of my soul. Let me to thy bosom fly, which we regularly sing up at the little church, which is called L Leon for now. Was that the church where they were married? Yes, it was, it isn't the actual church now.

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It's on the site, but it had to be rebuilt a long time. Oh, it's been rebuilt a long time ago. It's still quite old, but it did fall to pieces and have to be redone. But otherwise it, it is the same, exactly the same site. And

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we have a plaque on the wall proclaiming the fact that this was the site where they were actually married. They were married in 1749. So the writing of the hymn had to be prior to that when he was courting her. Yes, it must have been. I

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don't know the exact date. It probably says it in the hymn book. I didn't realize that Charles Wesley had written Hark, the Herald Angels Sing until a few Christmases ago when we were looking in our prayer books, we were singing and I suddenly looked, and I

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saw that he had written Hark. the Herald Angels sing. Yeah. So I don't know where he wrote that. I don't think he wrote that. I think he wrote it here. But it's nice to know you had because it's one of my favorite t now I'll tell

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you my story. This is the embellished American version and I don't know where I have read this, but the story I heard was that a large bird, probably a hawk was chasing a small bird, probably a sparrow around this yard during a thunderstorm. And the small

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bird exhausted worn out, flew in an open window. Now, why the window was open during a thunderstorm? I don't know but flew in an open window and hit Charles Wesley in the chest and burrowed into his coat and he was moved to write Jesus Lover of

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my soul. Let me to thy bosom fly. Now, that's pretty romantic. It's very romantic. It makes a very good story. The only thing I doubt is the window being opened during a thunderstorm. People's first idea is to shut the window. Jonath Thunderstone because they're frightened of

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lightning and they don't want the rain coming in. But otherwise I think it's a very good one because we do have a lot of sparrow hawks around here and they might well have chased the bird in here. I think your story is more plausible. Well, possibly,

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but a bit less glamorous. Maybe we'll change it from a robin to a sparrow and we'll combine the two like the Robin. I like Robins. Actually, I saw wrong. I my bye. And in

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1749 Charles Wesley married a Welsh girl called Sarah Gwyn Sally to a very remote place called Garth brought her back to Bristol and they lived in various houses in the vicinity, finishing up in number four Charles Street, which we still possess. And they had eight Children

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and the two boys were extremely musical and Sally as she was called, taught them the harpsichord. This was in the period when they were living at four Charles Street. They moved in 1771 to London for the better musical education of these boys, Samuel and Charles who

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were themselves considerable composers of tunes. And of course, Samuel was himself the father of Samuel Sebastian Wesley charles' grandson, who was a very eminent church organist in his day and wrote well known tunes like a really the churches, one foundation and so on. So they were

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a highly musical family. And uh Sally was a part of this. Oh, on down. All the, it is wrong. What? Hi Sean. Yeah. To me this song. Yeah. Oh, so Nine Spot? I see. So I did me, I saw the cross but,

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ok, all together Charles lived and ministered in Bristol for 32 years for the last 22 of these years. He and Sally and their Children lived happily at number four, Charles Street. Two of their sons became accomplished musicians in their own right? The hymns that have survived

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100 years or 200 years. Um Why have they? And, and which ones are they? Which ones do you think might even be here 50 years from now? Oh, gosh, of the classic. Is this an examination? Uh Well, there are, there are the Great Wesley hymns, of

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course, what is, what is good prose and what is good poetry and that will remain what is really good and what is, um what speaks deeply to the soul of men and women. Um We'll, we'll continue hymns I think are ecumenical, aren't they? I mean, although,

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yes, obviously a hymn writer belongs to a particular tradition that the hymns they write if they're good hymns are taken up by all denominations. And I think it's fascinating that, uh for instance, the hymns of, of, uh Charles Wesley are now expressing the sacramental theology that

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is ringing bells with the Roman Catholics, for instance, and they're finding common ground in, in common hymns in 1781 Charles and Sally closed the Bristol chapter of their lives and moved to London for the last 17 years of his life. They lived in a four story

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Georgian house on Great Chesterfield Street. Today. A tablet marks the site and the street has been renamed in honor of the great hymn writer, Charles who insisted that he had never left. The Anglican Church was an active member of the local parish church, Saint Marlens. Though

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he never regularly attended the Great Wesley Chapel in London, founded by his brother, his towering achievements are recorded on a tablet near the pulpit. The tablet includes these soaring words as a Christian poet, he stood unrivaled and his hymns will convey instruction and consolation to the

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faithful in Christ Jesus. As long as the English language shall be understood. Following his death. On March 29 1788 Charles was buried in Marlene Churchyard. John and Charles Wesley collaborated on a great many hymnals during their lifetime. But the Methodist hymn book of 1780 was the

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greatest of all time with its 525 hymns. It was a classic in the English language, Bernard Manning in his little book, The Hymns of Wesley and Watts says of this hymnal. It ranks in Christian literature with the Psalms, the book of Common Prayer, the canon of

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the mass in its own way. It is perfect, unapproachable elemental in its perfection. You cannot alter it except to mar it, it is a work of supreme devotional art by a religious genius. You may compare it with Leonardo's Last Supper or King's Chapel. And as Blackstone

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said, of the English Constitution, the proper attitude to take to it is this, we must venerate where we are not able presently to comprehend. That's lofty praise indeed. But I think it's justified. The Methodist hymn book of 1780 was a classic in our language during the

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London years. While numerous Wesley hymnals were published, it became a tradition for the number one hymn to be Oh for 1000 tongues to sing my great redeemer's praise. It became the quintessential Wesley hymn. At the end of his life, God had answered that prayer and given

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him thousands of hymns and thousands upon thousands of voices to sing praises to the great redeemer, to gracious assessment.