Visiting the Chapel and Home of a Tremendous Man of God

 

When John Wesley outgrew the Foundry (his first church) he purchased the land where Wesley’s Chapel is located today.

 “I look upon all the world as my parish.” –John Wesley

 

When first built there was no stained glass inside the chapel but over time, the church that still meets at Wesley’s Chapel today has replaced some of the windows with stained glass.

The pillars are original as well as the pews.

Can you imagine that all these pews were hand-made? I thought these extra seats that slide out of the pew were really clever.

We were able to go inside John Wesley’s 3 story home which is adjacent to the Chapel.

John Wesley’s bedroom where he died on March 2, 1791 at age 87 with his last words being:

“The best of all is, God is with us.”

The bed, with its 2 horsehair mattresses, is a reproduction but it is typical of the 18th century.

Wesley would arise every morning at 4am and go to bed at 9pm and he required everyone in his home to do the same.

In the above picture, you can see a doorway to the right. This was John Wesley’s prayer room where he would go to study his Bible and pray.

John Wesley’s cloak

Recently, I stood when I went over there, in England, when I was to—after the healing of King George, when I prayed for him with the multiple sclerosis. And then, up there they taken you up to Wesley’s home, and I knelt in the room and prayed, put on his cloak, went out to his pulpit, and stood there where they—he’d preached so much. And a honorable man, what a great man that he was…    54-0216 Bro. William Branham

“Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; such alone will shake the gates of hell and set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth.”–John Wesley

His shoes.

“Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.” — John Wesley

John Wesley’s pulpit.

“What one generation tolerates, the next generation will embrace.” –John Wesley

His writing desk…

This is an exercise chair! Would you have guessed that?

You sit on it and just jump up and down. Interesting.

John Wesley’s grave which is outside behind the chapel.

“Catch on fire and others will love to come watch you burn.” –John Wesley

I had to get a picture in front of this since my Wesley was in Canada at the time we went on our trip.

(The 2nd picture in the collage is when we were reunited.)

Across the street from the Chapel is the Dissenter’s Graveyard.

If you were not a member of the Church of England, you were not allowed to be buried within the city limits of London. When this graveyard was established it was outside the city limits but today it is now a bustling part of London.

Almost all of the gravestones are indecipherable. Time and weather has worn the writing away.

What is really striking to think about is that these are our brothers and sisters who were made outcasts because of their faith.

John Bunyan, author of Pilgrim’s Progress grave.

 

 

Daniel Defoe’s (author of Robinson Crusoe) grave marker is the tall obelisk to the left.

William Blake’s gravestone. My kids have read his poetry for part of their school, so it was special to be here.

(This is Audrey’s current favorite.)

Laughing Song

When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy,

And the dimpling stream runs laughing by;

When the air does laugh with our merry wit,

And the green hill laughs with the noise of it;

When the meadows laugh with lively green,

And the grasshopper laughs in the merry scene;

When Mary and Susan and Emily

With their sweet round mouths sing “Ha ha he!’

When the painted birds laugh in the shade,

Where our table with cherries and nuts is spread:

Come live, and be merry, and join with me,

To sing the sweet chorus of ‘Ha ha he!’

And of course, John Wesley’s mother, Susanna Wesley is buried here.

 

Umbrellas are a necessary piece of equipment when in London.

This was our last full day in Europe and it was a rainy one!

Later we met up with our guide to see a few more sights but… you know what I’m going to say, don’t you?… that will be next post.