Who Is Your Favorite Hymn Composer?

Published October 15, 2026
Who Is Your Favorite Hymn Composer?

THE HYMNAL. “Turn in your hymnal to page….” Heard that before in church? Chuck digs into the book that’s usually within your reach each Sunday. And he starts it all off with a solo! 

Or, how about Charles Wesley?

Charles Wesley, born in 1707 in Epworth, England, was a prolific hymn writer and an important figure in the Methodist movement. Along with his brother John Wesley, Charles played a key role in the growth and development of Methodism, and his hymns continue to be an important part of Christian worship to this day.

Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns during his lifetime, many of which are still sung in churches around the world. His hymns were often written to accompany specific sermons by John Wesley or to convey a particular theological message, and they were designed to be sung by congregations as a form of worship.

In addition to his hymns, Charles Wesley was also a poet and a theologian. He wrote extensively on Christian doctrine and published several collections of sermons and essays. His writing helped to shape the theology of the Methodist movement and to establish it as a distinct branch of Christianity. Charles’ hymns used a rich texture of metaphor, parallelism, and Scriptural allusion to create a poetic tapestry of stunning beauty and scope.

Charles Wesley’s legacy as a hymn writer and theologian continues to inspire Christians today. His hymns are beloved for their timeless messages of faith and hope, and his theological writings continue to influence Christian thought and practice.

For many, Charles Wesley is not only the greatest hymn writer in the English language but also a significant figure in the history of Christianity.

Here are 25 of Charles Wesley’s most cherished and powerful hymns:

Charles Wesley’s 25 most famous hymns:

  1. “Arise, My Soul, Arise”
  2. “And Can It Be That I Should Gain?”
  3. “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”
  4. “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
  5. “A Charge to Keep I Have”
  6. “I Want a Principle Within”
  7. “Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies”
  8. “Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown”
  9. “Depth of Mercy, Can it Be”
  10. “Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee”
  11. “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise”
  12. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
  13. “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”
  14. “Jesus, The Name High Over All”
  15. “Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending”
  16. “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
  17. “O for a Heart to Praise My God”
  18. “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”
  19. “O Thou Who Camest from Above”
  20. “Rejoice, the Lord is King”
  21. “Soldiers of Christ, Arise”
  22. “Sun of Unclouded Righteousness”
  23. “Thou Hidden Source of Calm Repose”
  24. “Ye Servants of God”
  25. “Come Holy Spirit, Our Hearts Inspire”

From the October 15, 2026 edition of This Week at Pender newsletter

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