John Wesley Black Plaque

City of London

Inscription

This tablet is erected to the glory of God in commemoration of the Evangelical Conversion of the Rev. John Wesley, M.A., on May 24, 1738. (This site of the meeting room of the Religious Society was probably 28 Aldersgate Street). And of the Rev. Charles Wesley, M.A., on May 21, 1738. The site of the house is near St Batholomew's Hospital. (No12 Little Britain). Erected by the International Methodist Historical Union. May 24 1926.

About This Blue Plaque

John Wesley was a prominent 18th-century evangelist and theologian, best known as the founder of Methodism. Born in 1703 in Epworth, Lincolnshire, Wesley was the 15th child of Samuel Wesley, an Anglican clergyman, and Susanna Annesley. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford, where he earned his Master of Arts degree.

On May 24, 1738, Wesley experienced a profound spiritual awakening during a meeting at a religious society in Aldersgate Street, London. This transformative event, which he described as feeling his heart “strangely warmed,” marked the beginning of his evangelical conversion. The exact location of the meeting room is believed to have been at 28 Aldersgate Street.

Following his conversion, Wesley dedicated his life to spreading the gospel and promoting the concept of personal salvation through faith. He traveled extensively throughout Britain and Ireland, preaching to large crowds and establishing Methodist societies. Wesley’s tireless efforts and organizational skills helped Methodism grow into a significant religious movement that would eventually spread worldwide.

Aldersgate Street, where Wesley’s conversion took place, is located in the City of London, the historic and financial heart of the British capital. The City of London, one of the oldest parts of London, has been a center of commerce and trade for centuries. It is home to numerous historic churches, guildhalls, and monuments that showcase the rich history and cultural heritage of the city.

Today, John Wesley is remembered as one of the most influential figures in British religious history. His legacy continues through the Methodist Church, which has millions of adherents worldwide. The commemorative plaque at Aldersgate Street serves as a reminder of the pivotal moment that set Wesley on his path to becoming a renowned evangelist and the founder of a global religious movement.