July 25, 2023
Read: Read 1 Corinthians 15.35 "But some man will say, how are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?"
"The best of all is, God is with us." John Wesley, 1791
After a bus tour of London, we went to visit Bunhill Cemetery, Wesley's Chapel also known as the City Road Chapel, his home and burial site.
At Bunhill Cemetery we were able to see the grave of Wesley's mother, Susanna Wesley. It is said John had her buried and her stone set in a place that he could view from his study window. Also buried in this cemetery is the great Isaac Watts among other famous people.
When Wesley came to London he settled into a home and built a chapel which still stands and is used as a church today. Here Wesley preached, hosted people and other preachers as well as developed the City Road mission which is attached as well to the chapel. The City Road mission today holds offices, but at one time was a health clinic, teaching center, place to receive meals and assistance. Everywhere Wesley went and established sites there was this dual focus on loving God and loving others.
Wesley died in his home in London. He gathered preachers and friends around him as he said good bye to them and assured them that the best was ahead of him. He did not want fanfare for his funeral, so it was held at 5:30a the morning after he died. However, word quickly spread and over 10,000 people came to Wesley's Chapel to say good-bye early in the morning. Wesley is buried outside behind the chapel where there is a small memorial garden surrounded by modern day office complexes.
This was the last day of the England portion of our travels and so it was fitting to have a group picture outside of the Chapel with John Wesley.
Seeing the sites and hearing once again familiar and new stories about the Wesley family was inspiring as we each seek to find our way to live our life to the fullest and have complete confidence that we will never be separated from the great love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8.35-38).
Prayer: Eternal God, continue to shape our lives in this world by your love and in your service. Help us to live with the confidence of eternity. Amen.