Susanna Wesley – Mother of Methodism Speaker Review

Susanna introduced herself as she walked centre stage dressed in costume supposedly pertaining to the 17th century. Born Susanna Annesley in 1669, she was the youngest of 25 children. Her father was ordained by the Anglican Church however, he practiced Presbyterian theology and was an enlightened parent who educated all his children regardless of their gender. As a consequence, Susanna was well read and scholarly but at the age of 13, decided she wanted to return to the Anglican Church, which she did with her father’s approval. During this same year, she met Samuel Wesley who she eventually married aged 19; he was 26, charming, witty and intelligent and also wanted to become a priest.

Once ordained into the Anglican Church, Samuel worked in London but followed the dissenting tradition of his father in law; this made him unpopular within his parish and he left to become a chaplain on a naval warship. Susanna now had no home or any means to financially support her growing brood of children so she moved back in with her parents until 1691 when Samuel obtained a position in rural Lincolnshire. Having grown used to the active and stimulating social life at her parents’ house, Lincolnshire did not suit Susanna who spurned the locals for their simple ways and lack of education. With mounting debt problems as a result of her husband’s poor financial management, Susanna devoted all her time to educating her own children and supplementing the family income by peddling herbal remedies and preparations. Their rectory at Epworth was burnt down, reputedly deliberately because of her husband’s unpopularity and rising unpaid debts however, her enduring stalwartness and determination kept her going.
Susanna’s story is one of triumph over hardship. She had 19 children of which only 9 survived; her husband was twice sent to jail because of his persistently unpaid debts yet throughout her many times of extreme adversity, she enjoyed success through her children, most especially Charles and John, who eventually went on to found Methodism. Despite increasingly painful health issues, Susanna lived to the ripe old age of 78 and was buried back in London in 1742.
This fairly faithful account of the life of Susanna Wesley was presented by an unnamed volunteer from Epworth Old Rectory, home of the Wesleys. Unfortunately, her presentation seriously lacked lustre, she couldn’t follow her brief and, she was unable to assume the identity of Susanna unconvincingly nevertheless, she deserves praise for her passion and enthusiasm although the latter emotion was not aroused in members of the audience.