John Wesley Black Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

John Wesley was a prominent 18th-century English clergyman, theologian, and evangelist, best known as the founder of Methodism. Born in 1703 in Epworth, Lincolnshire, Wesley was the fifteenth child of Samuel Wesley, an Anglican rector, and Susanna Annesley, a devout woman who greatly influenced her son’s spiritual development.

Educated at Christ Church, Oxford, Wesley earned his Master of Arts degree and was ordained as an Anglican priest in 1728. During his time at Oxford, he joined a small group of students, mockingly dubbed “Methodists” for their methodical approach to Bible study and prayer. This group would later form the basis of the Methodist movement.

In 1750, Wesley established his headquarters at The Foundery, located just forty yards south of this plaque on Tabernacle Street in the Borough of Islington, London. The Foundery served as a meeting place for the growing Methodist community and housed the first Methodist book room. It was here that Wesley’s mother, Susanna, passed away on July 30, 1742. The Foundery remained Wesley’s base until 1778, playing a crucial role in the early development of Methodism. Wesley’s tireless efforts as a preacher, organizer, and writer helped spread the Methodist message throughout Britain and beyond, leaving a lasting impact on Protestant Christianity. He died in 1791 at the age of 87, having laid the foundation for a global religious movement that continues to thrive today.