Sarah Wesley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sarah Wesley
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| Born | 1726 Garth, Brecknockshire, Wales, Kingdom of Great Britain
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| Died | 28 December 1822 (aged 95–96) |
| Nationality | British |
| Children | Charles Wesley junior, Samuel Wesley and Sarah Wesley |
| Parent(s) | Marmaduke Gwynne and Sarah Evans |
Sarah Wesley, also known as Sally Wesley, was born in 1726 and passed away on December 28, 1822. She was the wife of Charles Wesley, a traveling Methodist preacher. Charles was also the brother of John Wesley, who is known as the main founder of Methodism. Sarah came from a wealthy family and was very talented musically. She even performed for King George III. Her musical gifts were passed on to two of her sons, who both became amazing musicians.
Sarah Wesley's Early Life
Sarah Wesley was born in a place called Garth in Brecknockshire, Wales. Her parents were Sarah (whose maiden name was Evans) and Marmaduke Gwynne. Her father, Marmaduke, was a very rich man. He was a strong Anglican, which is a type of Christian faith, and even had his own religious helper.
Marmaduke was also a local judge. One day, he went to arrest a preacher named Howell Harris. Harris was thought to be causing trouble. But while Marmaduke listened to Harris's sermon, he changed his mind and became a believer in Harris's ideas. He brought Harris back to his house. Sarah's mother did not want to meet Harris, but Sarah was the only family member who listened to him.
By 1747, Sarah's father was letting traveling preachers stay at his home. In August of that year, Charles Wesley and his brother John Wesley stayed for five days. Sarah and Charles were nearly 20 years apart in age, but they liked each other. Charles came back the next April and asked Sarah to marry him. Sarah's mother had not been very happy about her husband's interest in the new evangelical revival, which was a big religious movement. However, she was happy for Charles Wesley to become her son-in-law.
Marriage and Family Life
Charles and Sarah got married in 1749. Their wedding took place at a small church in Llanlleonfel, near Garth. This church is about 6 miles west of Builth Wells. John Wesley, Charles's brother, performed the wedding ceremony. John had encouraged them to marry. He also promised his brother Charles an income from book sales to help Sarah's family feel better about Charles's money situation.
In September 1749, the Wesleys moved into a house at 4 Charles Street in Bristol. This house was their main home until 1771. Today, this house is kept as a historical site called "Charles Wesley's House". Charles was known as a preacher in Bristol. The churchyard of St. James Church holds the graves of five of their children. These children passed away when they were babies during the 22 years the family lived in Bristol.
Many marriages in the Wesley family were not very happy. But Charles and Sarah's marriage seemed to be a very joyful one. In 1753, Sarah became sick with smallpox. She survived, but the illness changed her appearance a lot. Sarah also had her own ideas about her faith. She continued to go to the Calvinist church of George Whitefield. She had met Whitefield as a child when he stayed at her father's house.
Sarah and Charles Wesley had several children, but only three lived to be adults. Their surviving children were Charles Wesley junior, Samuel Wesley, and another daughter named Sarah Wesley. Both sons were very talented in music and chose to make music their careers. Their mother, Sarah, was also known for her musical skills, especially her singing voice. She continued to sing and entertain people even when she was old. She had even performed for King George III.
After her husband Charles passed away, Sarah was supported by other Methodists and Evangelicals. This included a famous person named William Wilberforce. Sarah died on December 28, 1822. She was buried with her husband at St Marylebone Parish Church.
Sarah Wesley's Legacy
Sarah Wesley had her portrait painted during her lifetime. There is also a portrait of her from the 20th century by an artist named David Keal. He also painted other members of her family. The house where Charles and Sarah lived in Marylebone, London, has since been torn down. It's interesting that the blue plaque that shows where their house was is now on a pub. This is a bit funny because the Wesleys were part of the Methodist movement, which often supported the Temperance movement. This movement encouraged people to avoid alcohol.
