O, For A Thousand Tongues

Charles Wesley, along with Isaac Watts, are considered the two most influential writers of English hymnody to date. Wesley, an Oxford man, was ordained into the Anglican church and sent to America to stabilize the religious climate of the Georgia colonies and to evangelize Indians with his brother John. On the ship to America, he came across a zealous group of Moravians who were characterized by evangelistic missions and enthusiastic hymn singing.

Charles, and his brother, returned to England unsuccessful and disillusioned. While spending time in Aldersgate, they fell under the influence of another group of Moravians. It was at this time, that Charles recognized he had given himself to ministry, but not to Jesus. On the the 11th anniversary of his Aldersgate conversion, Charles wrote the hymn "O, For A Thousand Tongues". The title's origin was rumored to come from influential Moravian leader and Wesley friend, Peter Bohler who said, "Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise Christ Jesus with all of them."

The original hymn had 19 stanzas and entitled "For the Anniversary Day of One's Conversion". Today, this beloved hymn is still sung in churches worldwide as an anthem of praise for the saving work of God alone.