1810–1876

Introduction

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Born: Au­gust 14, 1810, Eng­land.

Died: Ap­ril 19, 1876, Glou­ces­ter, Eng­land.

Buried: St. Bar­tho­lo­mew’s Ce­me­te­ry, Exe­ter, Eng­land.

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Plaque in Exeter Cathedral

Biography

Wesley, a not­ed or­gan­ist and the­ater con­duc­tor, was a grand­son of hymn­ist Charles Wesley.

His mu­sic­al ca­reer be­gan as a choir boy in the Cha­pel Roy­al and St. Paul’s. In 1826, he be­gan serv­ing as an or­gan­ist, and start­ed to com­pose re­li­gious mu­sic.

He played the or­gan in Here­ford (where he eloped with the Dean’s daugh­ter), Exe­ter, Leeds par­ish church, Winc­hes­ter, and Glou­ces­ter. In ad­di­tion, he taught at the Roy­al Academy, start­ing in 1850.

He wrote about 38 an­thems, and worked on ma­ny hymns.

Works

Sources

Music