Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" is a Christian hymn by Charles Wesley on Christian perfection. Judging by general repute, it is among Wesley's finest. Judging by its distribution, it is also among his most successful.
Charles Wesley
The hymn's lyrics refer to the heavenly host: "Thee we would be always blessing / serve thee with thy hosts above".
John Zundel, composer of the hymn tune "Beecher"
Charles Wesley was an English Anglican cleric and a principal leader of the Methodist movement. Wesley was a prolific hymnwriter who wrote over 6,500 hymns during his lifetime. His works include "And Can It Be", "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing", "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today", "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling", the carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", and "Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending".
Portrait by John Russell
The 'Lily Portrait' of a young Wesley in the New Room, Bristol
Plaque in Marylebone commemorating the site of Wesley's house (now a pub)
Monument in St Marylebone Old Churchyard at the position of Wesley's original grave