John Wesley

John Wesley (/ˈwɛsli/;[1] 28 June  [O.S. 17 June] 1703 – 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to this day.

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The Reverend John Wesley
Portrait by George Romney (1789), National Portrait Gallery, London
Born	28 June  [O.S. 17 June] 1703 Epworth, Lincolnshire, England
Died	2 March 1791(1791-03-02) (aged 87) London, England, Kingdom of Great Britain
Nationality	English
Alma mater	Christ Church, Oxford and Lincoln College, Oxford
Occupations	Cleric Theologian Author
Spouse	Mary Vazeille ​ ​ (m. 1751; separated 1758)​
Parent(s)	Samuel and Susanna Wesley
Relatives	Samuel Wesley (brother) Mehetabel Wesley Wright (sister) Charles Wesley (brother)
Religion	Christian (Anglican / Methodist)
Church	Church of England
Ordained	1725
Offices held	President of the Methodist Conference
Theology career
Notable work	Articles of Religion Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament Sermons on Several Occasions
Theological work
Language	English
Tradition or movement	Methodism, Wesleyan–Arminianism
Notable ideas	Imparted righteousness, Second work of grace, Wesleyan Quadrilateral
Signature

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John Wesley
Background History (in the United States) Anglicanism Arminianism First Great Awakening Moravianism Nonconformism Pietism Wesleyan theology
Doctrine Doctrinal standards Bible Old Testament New Testament Creeds Nicene Creed Apostles' Creed Articles of Religion Sermons on Several Occasions Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament Distinctive beliefs and practices Assurance of faith Conditional preservation of the saints Priesthood of all believers Four sources of theological authority Covenant theology Substitutionary atonement Imparted righteousness Moral law New birth Free will Outward holiness Prevenient grace Real presence Sanctification Sunday Sabbatarianism Christian perfection Views on sin Works of piety Works of mercy
Worship The Sunday Service of the Methodists Covenant Renewal Service Camp meeting Tabernacle Tent revival Brush arbour revival Lovefeast Watchnight service
People John Wesley Charles Wesley Richard Allen Francis Asbury Thomas Coke John William Fletcher William Law William Williams Pantycelyn Howell Harris Albert Outler James Varick Countess of Huntingdon Phoebe Palmer Richard Watson George Whitefield Bishops Theologians
Groups Churches Methodist Church of Great Britain Free Methodist Church United Methodist Church World Methodist Council Global Methodist Church Other Methodist denominations
Organization Connexionalism General Conference Methodist Circuit Pastoral charge Class meeting Penitent band
Related groups Holiness movement Conservative holiness movement Holiness Pentecostalism Evangelicalism
Other relevant topics Saints in Methodism Methodist views on alcohol Methodist local preacher Itinerant preacher Circuit rider Steward Homosexuality and Methodism Ordination of women in Methodism Bishops in Methodism
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Educated at Charterhouse and Christ Church, Oxford, Wesley was elected a fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1726 and ordained as an Anglican priest two years later. At Oxford, he led the "Holy Club", a society formed for the purpose of the study and the pursuit of a devout Christian life. After an unsuccessful two year ministry in Savannah, Georgia, he returned to London and joined a religious society led by Moravian Christians. On 24 May 1738, he experienced what has come to be called his evangelical conversion. He subsequently left the Moravians and began his own ministry.

A key step in the development of Wesley's ministry was to travel and preach outdoors, embracing Arminian doctrines. Moving across Great Britain and Ireland, he helped form and organise small Christian groups (societies) that developed intensive and personal accountability, discipleship, and religious instruction. He appointed itinerant, unordained evangelists—both women and men—to care for these groups of people. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day, including the abolition of slavery and support for women preachers.

Although he was not a systematic theologian, Wesley argued for the notion of Christian perfection and against Calvinism. His evangelicalism, firmly grounded in sacramental theology, maintained that means of grace sometimes had a role in sanctification of the believer; however, he taught that it was by faith a believer was transformed into the likeness of Christ. He held that, in this life, Christians could achieve a state where the love of God "reigned supreme in their hearts", giving them not only outward but inward holiness. Wesley's teachings, collectively known as Wesleyan theology, continue to inform the doctrine of Methodist churches.

Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the established Church of England, insisting that the Methodist movement lay well within its tradition.[2] In his early ministry years, Wesley was barred from preaching in many parish churches and the Methodists were persecuted; he later became widely respected, and by the end of his life, was described as "the best-loved man in England".[3]