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Aldersgate, London
Photo: Wikimedia Commons · Aldersgate Day

Aldersgate, London

John Wesley's 'warmed heart' · England

John Wesley was a strict, hard-working Anglican priest, but after a failed mission to America he felt he lacked real faith. On the evening of 24 May 1738 he went unwillingly to a meeting in Aldersgate Street, where someone was reading Luther's preface to the letter to the Romans. 'I felt my heart strangely warmed,' he wrote that night. Today a bronze memorial in the shape of a flame, with the words from his journal, stands near the spot.

Did you know?

Wesley had been inspired by Moravians from Herrnhut whom he met during a storm at sea.

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An inspiring story

A heart strangely warmed

Can you do everything right and still miss the heart of it?

John Wesley was a strict, hard-working clergyman who prayed, fasted and even sailed to America as a missionary. Yet he felt he did not truly trust God. On the evening of 24 May 1738 he went unwillingly to a small meeting on Aldersgate Street, where someone was reading Luther's preface to Romans. At about a quarter to nine, he wrote, he felt his heart strangely warmed. Why did that change everything? Because for the first time he knew he did not have to earn God's love: it had been given to him.

In the fifty years that followed he rode some 400,000 km on horseback and preached around 40,000 sermons. It began with one warm heart.

I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation.John Wesley, journal, 24 May 1738

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