On May 14th the Church of England remembers the amazing ministry of these two Christian leaders. It seems appropriate to mention them this month as the Methodist Chapel in Sibford prepares to close.

The Wesley brothers, John (b 1703) and Charles (b 1707), were leaders of the evangelical revival in the Church of England in the 18th century. They both attended Oxford University, and there they gathered a few friends with whom they undertook a strict adherence to the worship and discipline of the Book of Common Prayer – hence the nickname, "Methodists." Having been ordained, they went to the American colony of Georgia in 1735, John as a missionary and Charles a civil servant. They returned home in a few years.

Then, three days apart, they underwent a conversion experience. John received a strong emotional awareness of the love of Christ displayed in freely forgiving his sins and granting him eternal life. Following this experience, John and Charles, with others, set about to stir up in others a like awareness of and response to the saving love of God.

Of the two, John was the more powerful preacher, and averaged 8000 miles of travel a year, mostly on horseback. At the time of his death he was probably the best known and best loved man in England.