Wesley

Wesley, name of 2 English evangelistic preachers who, with George Whitefield, founded Methodism. John Wesley (1703–91) and his brother Charles (1707–88) formed an Oxford Holy Club of scholarly Christians, known as Methodists for their “rule and methods.” In 1738 the brothers were profoundly influenced by the Moravian Church in Georgia and, John in particular, by Luther's Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. Aiming to promote “vital, practical religion,” the Wesleys took up evangelistic work by field, or open-air, preaching. Rejected by the Church of England, they were enthusiastically received by the people, and they organized conferences of itinerant lay preachers. Charles composed some 6,500 hymns, including “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

See also: Methodists.