Charles Wesley's House () is a restored historic building at 4 Charles Street,

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city, Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Glouces ...

, England. From 1749 to 1778 it was the house of

Charles Wesley Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was an English leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include "And Can It Be", "Christ the Lord Is Risen T ...

hymn A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn ...

writer and co-founder of

Methodism Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's b ...

, and his wife

Sarah Wesley Sarah Wesley, Gwynne, also known as Sally Wesley (1726 – 28 December 1822) was the wife of itinerant Methodist Charles Wesley, brother of John Wesley, the main founder of Methodism. The daughter of a wealthy family, Wesley once performed ...

, née Gwynne. It was Charles Wesley's main residence during 1756–71. It was the childhood home of his sons

Charles Wesley junior Charles Wesley junior (11 December 1757 in Bristol – 23 May 1834 in London) was an English organist and composer. He was the son of Sarah and Charles Wesley (the great hymn-writer and one of the founders of Methodism), and the brother of Samue ...

and

Samuel Wesley Samuel Wesley (24 February 1766 – 11 October 1837) was an English organist and composer in the late Georgian period. Wesley was a contemporary of Mozart (1756–1791) and was called by some "the English Mozart".Kassler, Michael & Olleson, Ph ...

. They were musical child prodigies, who both became renowned

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...

s and composers. The house's interior has been restored to its 18th-century appearance, with period fittings.

Wesley family

Charles Wesley (1707–1788), and his wife, Sarah Gwynne (1726–1822) from Brecknockshire, moved into the house in September 1749, after their marriage earlier that year. Initially, Charles continued his "itinerations", that is travelling and preaching around the country, and so was often away from home. Sarah sometimes accompanied him. By 1756 this lifestyle had taken its toll on his health, and after that year he made no further long journeys to distant parts of the country. However, he still spent much of his time away in London, attending to the Methodist community there. He was the Methodist "minister in residence" for Bristol, and was described in the St James's Church parish records as a "preacher at the Horsefair". Charles and Sarah had many children, all baptised at St James's. In between Charles junior (1757–1834) and Samuel (1766–1837) they had a daughter, Sarah (1759–1828), who like her mother was often called Sally. There were other children, but they died young, and were buried in St James's churchyard.

Child prodigies

The early musical education of Charles junior and Samuel mostly took place in the family home. The boys' earliest musical influence was their mother, who had a good singing voice and played the harpsichord. Hymn tunes and the works of Handel were the family's favourite pieces. The first music teachers for the two prodigies were both local church organists. From around the age of six, Charles junior had lessons from Edmund Rooke, who was organist at All Saints' Church from 1759 and at

Bristol Cathedral Bristol Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, is the Church of England cathedral in the city of Bristol, England. Founded in 1140 and consecrated in 1148, it was originally St Augustine's Abbey but after the Dissolu ...

during 1769–73. From a similar age, Samuel had lessons from David Williams, who was the organist at All Saints' Church from 1772. Charles junior's public performances in Bristol included a 1769 harpsichord concerto at the

Assembly Room In Great Britain and Ireland, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, assembly rooms were gathering places for members of the higher social classes open to members of both sexes. At that time most entertaining was done at home and there were ...

, and an Easter 1774 organ concerto in Bristol Cathedral. On that occasion Samuel was aggrieved as he had expected to be the one giving the performance. From 1771 onwards the family had two households, the other being in Chesterfield Street,

Marylebone Marylebone (usually , also , ) is a district in the West End of London, in the City of Westminster. Oxford Street, Europe's busiest shopping street, forms its southern boundary. An ancient parish and latterly a metropolitan borough, it me ...

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

. Charles and Charles junior moved to the London house that year, and the whole family had moved to London by 1778. The London house was demolished in the mid 19th century.

Architecture

The two attached houses at 4 and 5 Charles Street have been designated by

English Heritage English Heritage (officially the English Heritage Trust) is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. These include prehistoric sites, medieval castles, Roman forts and country houses. The charity states that i ...

as a Grade II*

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

. It is early 18th century, early

Georgian Georgian may refer to: Common meanings * Anything related to, or originating from Georgia (country) ** Georgians, an indigenous Caucasian ethnic group ** Georgian language, a Kartvelian language spoken by Georgians **Georgian scripts, three scrip ...

in style, and built of brick with three stories. At the front each house has two sash windows per floor, with stepped

voussoir A voussoir () is a wedge-shaped element, typically a stone, which is used in building an arch or vault. Although each unit in an arch or vault is a voussoir, two units are of distinct functional importance: the keystone and the springer. The ...

s over the windows. The houses are surrounded by modern buildings.

References

External links

Charles Wesley's House

John Wesley's New Room
{{Culture in Bristol Houses completed in the 18th century Historic house museums in Bristol Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol Religious museums in England Biographical museums in Bristol 18th century in Bristol History of Methodism Grade II* listed museum buildings

Wesley family

Child prodigies

Architecture

See also

References

External links