Statue of John Wesley, St Paul's Churchyard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Statue of John Wesley |
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The statue in 2013
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| Artist | Samuel Manning |
| Year | 1988 |
| Medium | Bronze |
| Subject | John Wesley |
| Dimensions | 1.6 m (5.1 ft) |
| Location | St Paul's Churchyard, London |
| 51°30′51″N 0°05′55″W / 51.51430°N 0.09854°W | |
The statue of John Wesley, St Paul's Churchyard is a cool bronze sculpture in London, England. It shows John Wesley, who was a very important religious leader. He helped start a big Christian group called Methodism. This statue stands in the northwest part of St Paul's Churchyard. It was put there in 1988.
The John Wesley Statue: A London Landmark
This statue is found in the famous St Paul's Churchyard in London. It shows John Wesley, who was a priest, poet, and teacher. He lived from 1703 to 1791. Wesley is known as the "Father of Methodism."
Wesley himself visited the nearby St Paul's Cathedral many years ago. He worshipped in the Chancel of the Cathedral from May 24 to May 26, 1738. The statue reminds people of his connection to this historic place.
About the Statue
The statue is made of bronze. It is 5 feet 1 inch tall, which was John Wesley's actual height. The sculpture shows him wearing a long robe called a cassock. He is holding a bible in his left hand.
On the front of the statue's base, there is a special message. It says:
By Grace ye are saved through Faith
John Wesley, Father of Methodism, 1703–1791, priest, poet, teacher of the Faith.
This message tells us about Wesley's beliefs and his role in history. On the back of the base, there is another plaque. It says the statue belongs to the Aldersgate Trustees of the Methodist Church. It also shows the date it was put up: September 17, 1988.
How the Statue Was Made
The statue you see today was cast from an older sculpture. The original sculpture was made by an artist named Samuel Manning and his son. They worked on it between 1825 and 1849.
Samuel Manning first created his sculpture out of plaster. This plaster version was shown at the Royal Academy in 1825. After Samuel Manning passed away, his son made a new version. This one was carved from marble. You can find this marble sculpture today at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster. The bronze statue in St Paul's Churchyard is a later version, bringing Wesley's image to a public space.
