Wesleyan of, relating to, or denoting the teachings of the English preacher John Wesley (1703–91), or the main branch of the Methodist Church which was founded by him. Wesley was a committed Christian evangelist who won many working-class converts, often through open-air preaching. The opposition they encountered from the Church establishment led to the Methodists forming a separate denomination in 1791. His brother Charles (1707–88) was also a founding Methodist, and both wrote many hymns.

Wesleyan. XVIII. pert. to John Wesley (1703–1791), originator of Methodism; see -AN.