Charles Wesley (1707-1788) was a prolific hymn writer of the 18th century. Coming from a musical family, he left a lasting legacy of congregational song. The youngest of 18 children, Charles possessed prodigious talents that soon blossomed. Little did he know that “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” would rise to become one of the most popular and consistently vocalized Christian songs.
Writing hymn texts that are solidly based on the Scriptures gives them an appeal across denominational lines. It is estimated that during his lifetime, Wesley penned more than 9,000 poems of a spiritual nature, 6,000 of which are hymns. His writings were passionate and well-crafted, conveying the true essence of Christian teaching. Wesley married Sara Gwynne in 1749. She was a constant companion to him on his evangelical journeys. Only five of their eight children survived infancy. Charles Wesley Jr. (1757-1834) and Samuel Wesley (1766-1837) were musical like their father, and his daughter Sarah (1759-1828) was gifted in spiritual poetry.
Songs with Banjo from Harold Hagler
