Charles Wesley wrote over 6500 hymns or 3 a week for almost 57 years. His brother was John, and both wrote a large number of hymns. Their families were very supportive of musicians and musical training. Charles purposed to provide material for public praise. He equaled Isaac Watts in his use of Scripture in them.
Charles Wesley had been chosen to serve as serve as secretary to Governor James Oglethorpe in establishing the last of the 13 colonies. This colony was Georgia. It was to give those who had fallen on hard times the chance to have a new beginning, in a new land.
On the boat ride to America, there were 26 German Moravians who impressed both John and Charles with their hearty singing. Once in Georgia, Charles became ill and had to return to England after only four months. John stayed on for a year, and in 1737, printed a Collection of Psalms and Hymns for congregational singing. Half of the songs were from Isaac Watts. John was quickly charged with introducing unauthorized hymns to the church. He fled before his case came to trial.
Some of the hymns he composed were:
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Sources
Copy of the Charles Wesley painting from Christian History Institute as posted on their internet site: http://www.gospelcom.net/chi/ARCHIVEF/05/daily-05-21-2001.shtml
The copy of the William Bradbury drawing is from http://www.hymntime.com/tch/index.htm
J.D. Douglas, Who's Who in Christian History (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1997, c1992).
K.W. Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1985). Page 74.
C.H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon's Sermons: Volume 40, electronic ed., Logos Library System (Albany, OR: Ages Software, 1998).
