Charles Wesley's House
Encyclopedia
Charles Wesley's House is a restored historic building at 4 Charles Street, Bristol
, England
. From 1749 to 1778 it was the house of Charles Wesley
, hymn
writer and one of the founders of Methodism
, and it was his main residence during 1756–71. It was the childhood home of his sons Charles Wesley junior
and Samuel Wesley
. They were musical child prodigies
, who both became renowned organist
s and composer
s. The house's interior has been restored to its 18th century appearance, with period fittings.
, 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.
. Hymn tune
s 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
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, 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
, London
. 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.
as a grade II* listed building. It is early 18th century, early Georgian
in style, and built of brick with three stories. At the front each house has two sash window
s per floor, with stepped voussoir
s over the windows. The houses are surrounded by modern buildings.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. From 1749 to 1778 it was the house of Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley was an English leader of the Methodist movement, son of Anglican clergyman and poet Samuel Wesley, the younger brother of Anglican clergyman John Wesley and Anglican clergyman Samuel Wesley , and father of musician Samuel Wesley, and grandfather of musician Samuel Sebastian Wesley...
, hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
writer and one of the founders of Methodism
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
, and it was his main residence during 1756–71. It was the childhood home of his sons Charles Wesley junior
Charles Wesley junior
Charles Wesley junior was an English organist and composer. He was the son of Charles Wesley, the great hymn-writer and one of the founders of Methodism, and the brother of Samuel Wesley, also an organist and composer. He is usually referred to as "Charles Wesley junior" to avoid confusion with...
and Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley was an English organist and composer in the late Georgian period. Wesley was a contemporary of Mozart and was called by some "the English Mozart."-Personal life:...
. They were musical child prodigies
Child prodigy
A child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, who both became renowned organist
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...
s and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s. 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 BrecknockshireBrecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
, 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
St James' Priory, Bristol
The Priory Church of St James, Bristol is a Grade I listed building in Horsefair, Whitson Street.It was founded in 1129 as a Benedictine priory by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, the illegitimate son of Henry I. The nave survives from 1129 but the tower was added around 1374. The south aisle was...
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 harpsichordHarpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
. Hymn tune
Hymn tune
A hymn tune is the melody of a musical composition to which a hymn text is sung. Musically speaking, a hymn is generally understood to have four-part harmony, a fast harmonic rhythm , and no refrain or chorus....
s and the works of Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
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
All Saints' Church, Bristol
All Saints is a church in Corn Street, Bristol, England.The west end of the nave survives from the original 12th century church, and the east nave and aisles were built in the 15th century. The north-east tower was added in 1716 by William Paul, and completed by George Townesend...
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, and is commonly known as Bristol Cathedral...
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, 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
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. 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 HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a grade II* listed building. It is early 18th century, early Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
in style, and built of brick with three stories. At the front each house has two sash window
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
s per floor, with stepped voussoir
Voussoir
A voussoir is a wedge-shaped element, typically a stone, 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 keystone is the center stone or masonry unit at the apex of an arch. A...
s over the windows. The houses are surrounded by modern buildings.
See also
- New Room, BristolNew Room, BristolThe New Room is a historic building in Broadmead, Bristol, England.It was built in 1739 by John Wesley and is the oldest Methodist chapel in the world. Above the chapel are the rooms in which Wesley and other preachers stayed. The chapel includes a double decker pulpit, which was common at the...
- John Wesley's House
- Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol