John Wesley published three tune books in two-decade intervals for the evangelical British Methodist movement within the Church of England with its varied audiences and diverse musical tastes. S T Kimbrough, Jr. and Carlton R. Young have published the only facsimile reprints, with critical introductions and notes, of the first two collections (1742 and 1761). Wesley intended his third collection, Sacred Harmony, or a choice Collection of Psalms and Hymns, Set to Music in two or three parts for the Voice, Harpsichord & Organ (1780), henceforth SH 1780, as a musical companion to his monumental A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the People Called Methodists (1780). This edition of SH 1780 provides the ecclesial, cultural, and musical contexts of the volume; traces the sources of each tune and text (with textual variants), provides indexes of texts and tunes, and appropriate appendices. The copy used for this facsimile includes the autograph of John Wesley and the date of January 10, 1780, on an opening flyleaf, his marginal notes, and is housed in the archives of Old St. George's United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Each page of this facsimile edition of SH 1780 has been thoroughly cleaned of bleedthrough and blotches.
John Wesley (1703 - 1791)
Was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to Whitefield's Calvinism, Wesley embraced the Arminian doctrines that were dominant in the 18th-century Church of England. Methodism in both forms became a highly successful evangelical movement in Britain, which encouraged people to experience Jesus Christ personally.Wesley helped to organise and form societies of Christians throughout Great Britain, North America and Ireland as small groups that developed intensive, personal accountability, discipleship and religious instruction among members. His great contribution was to appoint itinerant, unordained preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for people in the societies. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day, including the prison reform and abolitionism movements.
John Wesley was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, with founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to George Whitefield's Calvinism (which later led to the forming of the Calvinistic Methodists), Wesley embraced Arminianism. Methodism in both forms was a highly successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom, which encouraged people to experience Christ personally.
Wesley believed that this doctrine should be constantly preached, especially among the people called Methodists. In fact, he contended that the purpose of the Methodist movement was to "spread scriptural holiness across England."
Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the Church of England and insisted that his movement was well within the bounds of the Anglican tradition. His maverick use of church policy put him at odds with many within the Church of England, though toward the end of his life he was widely respected.
John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist movement which grew from the 'Holy Club' of his Oxford friends into a great religious revival. An indefatigable traveller, preacher and writer, Wesley averaged 8,000 miles a year on horseback and gave 15 sermons a week. The reluctance of the Anglican clergy to lend him their pulpits led him to give some of his sermons in the open air, a decision which enabled him to reach those among the poorer sections of society who were not accustomed to going to church.
... Show more