Editing Charles Wesley (section)

===Early life===
Charles Wesley was the 18th child of [[Susanna Wesley]] and [[Samuel Wesley (poet, died 1735)|Samuel Wesley]]. He was born in [[Epworth, England|Epworth]], Lincolnshire, England, where his father was [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]].<ref name=bbc/> In 1716, at the age of eight, he entered [[Westminster School]], where his brother Samuel was usher. He was selected as [[Queen's Scholar (Westminster School)|King's Scholar]] in 1721 and head boy in 1725–26, before matriculating at [[Christ Church, Oxford]].<ref name="Vickers2008">{{cite web |editor-last1=Vickers |editor-first1=John A. |title=Wesley, Charles |url=https://dmbi.online/index.php?do=app.entry&id=2944 |work=A Dictionary of Methodism in Britain and Ireland}}</ref>

At Oxford, Wesley formed a prayer group among his fellow students in 1727; his elder brother, John, joined in 1729, soon becoming its leader and moulding it in line with his own convictions. They focused on studying the Bible and living a holy life. Other students mocked them, saying they were the "[[Holy Club]]", "Sacramentarians", and "the [[Methodists]]", being methodical and exceptionally detailed in their Bible study, opinions and disciplined lifestyle.<ref name=bbc/> The Wesleys' future colleague, [[George Whitefield]]. joined the group. Wesley tutored while studying; he graduated in 1732 with a master's degree in classical languages and literature. He followed his father and brothers into [[Anglican orders]], being ordained as a [[priest]] in September 1735.<ref name="Vickers2008"/> That same year his father died.