John Wesley (1703-91) was the older of the brothers by four years. He was born at Epworth Rectory, Lincolnshire. He was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ Church, Oxford. He was ordained into the Anglican ministry and acted as his father's curate. In 1729 he went into residence at Oxford as Fellow of Lincoln College. There he joined his brother Charles and George Whitefield in the Holy Club, a group of students who met together for private worship and good works, including visiting prisons and comforting the sick. Their strict and methodical religious practices earned them the nickname 'methodists' from their fellow students.

In 1735 Wesley went to Georgia with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.Onboard ship he met some German Moravians, whose simple faith and fearlessness impressed him. On his return to England in 1738 he sought them out and while attending one ofntheir meetings in London experienced a profound spiritual experience, often referred to as a conversion.

In 1739 he was persuaded by George Whitefield to begin outdoor preaching and a month later founded the first Methodist society in London. Methodis was initially intended to be an add-on for Anglicans who had experienced conversion and Wesley expected them to attend worship and the sacraments at their parish church. But Methodism began to develop its own structures with classes for pastoral care, authorised lay preachers and in 1744 launched an annual conference.

Wesley proved an inspirational and popular preacher who travelled 5000 miles a year on horseback, sometimes delivering five sermons each day. He stressed the doctrine of assurance: 'every man can be saved and every man can know that he is saved.'

Charles Wesley (1707-88) was the younger brother by four years. He was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. While at Oxford he was a founder member of the Holy Club. Ordained in 1735, later that year he went with his brother to Georgia but ill health forced him to relinquish his post and return to England the following year. He was caught up in the evangelical revival. Charles had a conversion experience on Whit Sunday, 1738 - three days before his brother.

The Wesley brothers differed on doctrinal matters. Charles always being the more conservative of the two. Charles opposed steps that might lead to separation from the Church of England and disapproved of John's unilateral ordinations of Methodist ministers for North America and Scotland.

Charles' greatest work was his poetry and hymn writing. It was he who ensured Methodism would be noted for its congregational signing and he left an incomparable legacy of 7000 hymns. Many are still sung to this day including And can it be? Hark the Herald angels sing, and Love divine, all loves excelling.