‘Forever grateful’: 7 notable mothers of Christian history

Susanna Wesley    

Susanna Wesley, the wife of an Anglican minister, was the mother of John and Charles Wesley, the two brothers who founded the influential 18th century Methodist movement.

She is often called the “Mother of Methodism” because, although she was never held an official pastoral position, she nevertheless exerted strong spiritual influence on the Wesley brothers.

The Rev. Alfred T. Day III, General Commission on Archives and History for the United Methodist Church, noted in a 2016 video that Susanna was “a major difference maker” in their lives.

“John and Charles are their mother’s sons. She is the person who is responsible for their education and spiritual formation,” explained Day in the video.

“… the differences that she made have lived on from the history of 17th and 18th century well into the present moment because of the sons that she raised.”