21/05/2026
Today we celebrate the Assurance of Faith that came to Charles Wesley on the the 21st May 1738!
Charles returns from America in December of 1736, after a short and disappointing visit. In the spring of 1738, he stays with Mr and Mrs Turner in London, recovering from an illness and feeling low about his lack of belief. Mrs Turner, on seeing a vision of Christ in her sleep, entered Charles’ room and said “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, arise, and believe, and thou shalt find the forgiveness of all thy sins”. Charles writes in his journal that “the words struck me to the heart” and that he “felt in the meantime a strange palpitation of heart”. Still in doubt, Charles “sent for Mr Bray, and asked him whether I believed. He answered, I ought not to doubt it: it was Christ spoke to me”.
To celebrate, Charles wrote “And Can It be That I Should Gain?” A popular Methodist hymn. One year later, to mark the anniversary of this event, Charles wrote a massive 18 verse poem.
The Methodist Church Methodist Heritage Bristol and South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit
