Blow Ye The Trumpet, Blow

Charles Wesley wrote the hymn "Blow Ye The Trumpet, Blow" and published it as the third of the seven texts for Hymns for New Year’s Day in 1750, printed in 6 stanzas of 6 lines. There are several alterations to the text. R. Conyers published a copy in his Collection in 1772 and 1774 which included the sixth, third, fourth, and sixth, in that order. The most common composition was A.M. Toplady’s where the second stanza was given as sixth and the fourth stanza as fifth. The publication of this has brought confusion to the authorship of the hymn. The error was clarified when three alterations in the Supplement to the Wesleyan Hymn Book was printed in 1830.

Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788) was the 18th child of Anglican cleric and poet Samuel Wesley and his wife, Susanna. His older brother, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, the rival movement within the Church of England. Charles and John had different views and beliefs when they were young. Charles doesn’t want to get involved or to start a breach with the Church of England.

Wesley became the King’s scholar in 1721, and he had board and education free. After ten years, he was elected Westminster studentship at Christ Church in Oxford. He took a degree in 1729 and worked as a college tutor. In the same year, his religious knowledge has widened, and he decided to form a group with his schoolmates called “Holy Club.” John Wesley and George Whitefield were among the students who joined the said group. Also, he became one of the first band of "Oxford Methodists."

The composer of the tune, Lewis Edson, was born on January 22, 1748. He was one of the first American composers and was a known singer during his time. He was working as a blacksmith before he became a singing master. He was well-known for his compositions published in the “Choristers Companion” in 1782 namely Lenox, Bridgewater and Green Field.