John Wesley (1703–1791) was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who founded Methodism, a movement within the Church of England that emphasized personal faith, holiness, and social justice. Educated at Oxford, he began the “Holy Club” with his brother Charles Wesley, focusing on disciplined Christian living. After a spiritual awakening in 1738, he began open-air preaching, reaching thousands. His message stressed salvation by faith, the importance of Scripture, and the pursuit of Christian perfection. Though he remained an Anglican priest, his work laid the foundation for the Methodist Church, which grew rapidly across Britain and later in America.