Wesleyan

views updated May 11 2018

Wesleyan of, relating to, or denoting the teachings of the English preacher John Wesley (1703–91), or the main branch of the Methodist Church which was founded by him. Wesley was a committed Christian evangelist who won many working-class converts, often through open-air preaching. The opposition they encountered from the Church establishment led to the Methodists forming a separate denomination in 1791. His brother Charles (1707–88) was also a founding Methodist, and both wrote many hymns.

Wesleyan

views updated May 21 2018

Wesleyan. XVIII. pert. to John Wesley (1703–1791), originator of Methodism; see -AN.

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