The Journal Letters and Related Biographical Items of the Reverend Charles Wesley, M.A., Second Edition

Charles Wesley’s Journal is crucial to an understanding of the beginnings of the Wesleyan/Methodist movement.

As a primary record of one of the founders of the Wesleyan/Methodist movement, Charles Wesley’s Journal is crucial to an understanding of the beginnings of that movement. It is an indispensable interpretive companion to John Wesley’s Journal, diaries, and letters. Since it provides essential background to the context of Charles Wesley’s lyrical theology expressed in sacred poetry, it is likewise essential for anyone who wants to understand the context out of which Wesleyan theology, worship, spirituality, hymnody, and conferencing emerged. For a church or movement which avers that “it sings its theology,” Charles Wesley’s Journal is an imperative.

This volume is part of a series dedicated to providing a complete and accurate published collection of Charles Wesley’s manuscript items beyond his sermons and verse. The various items in the series constitute crucial primary texts for studying Wesley’s life, his ministry, and his increasingly contentious position within Methodism in his later years. The first two volumes of the series were devoted to Charles Wesley’s Manuscript Journal, a single-bound item held at the Methodist Archives and Research Centre. The present volume gathers a number of scattered items (the majority also held at MARC), many of which are earlier―and more complete―drafts of material in the Manuscript Journal. The third major component of the series is the publication of all of Charles Wesley’s surviving personal correspondence, which is replete with material of biographical and larger historical interest. This second edition adds journal letters and records from December 1716–January 1717 (Accounts of “Old Jeffrey”) and May 12–June 14, 1746.

Praise for the First Edition:
“It’s a great day in the life of a student of the Wesleys when we get a fresh volume of material scarcely known to previous generations. So it is with this collection of Charles Wesley’s journal letters from the period 1738–1756 and similar letters up to 1778 that describe his sons’ musical careers and in fact reveal a great deal about his life. This will be relished by all concerned with the heritage of the Wesleys, and we’re especially blessed to have it in a very well annotated critical edition.” ―Ted A. Campbell, Professor of Church History, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX

“The publication of Charles Wesley’s Journal Letters helps expand our knowledge of his life and ministry and enrich our understanding of the wider evangelical revival. This is an essential text for scholars of early Methodism edited by renowned experts in the field.” ―Geordan Hammond, Senior Lecturer in Church History and Wesley Studies and Director of the Manchester Wesley Research Centre, Nazarene Theological College, Manchester, UK

Richard P. Heitzenrater is William Kellon Quick Professor Emeritus of Church History and Wesleyan Studies at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC, and general editor emeritus of the Bicentennial Edition of The Works of John Wesley.

Randy L. Maddox is William Kellon Quick Professor Emeritus of Wesleyan and Methodist Studies at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC, and general editor of the Bicentennial Edition of The Works of John Wesley.

The late Frank Baker was Professor Emeritus of English Church History at Duke Divinity School in Durham, NC, an expert on Wesleyan Methodism, and editor of two volumes in the Bicentennial Edition of The Works of John Wesley.