Hodges, John
c.1700-1777

Rector of Wenvoe, near Cardiff 1725-77. He graduated from Jesus College, Oxford and was associated with the evangelical revival from the early days through an association with Howell Harris. He held both English and Welsh services, with a weekly communion and a society meeting on Sunday evenings. He first met Charles Wesley in November 1740 and probably introduced him and John Wesley to Robert Jones of Fonmon. Both Charles and John Wesley preached in his church. He attended the first three Conferences in London and Bristol, but later became disillusioned, perhaps because of the shortcomings of the Cardiffsociety, perhaps through his growing interest in mysticism. In 1758 he wrote a frank letter reproving Wesley for the 'tartness' of his controversial writings. Wesley in turn disapproved of the 'cold, dry, careless manner' in which Hodges read the church service in August 1763.

Sources
  • WM Magazine1902 pp.425-31
  • R. Butterworth, in WHS Proceedings, pp.69-71
  • A.Skevington Wood, Brothers in Arms: John Wesley's Early Clerical Associates (1992) pp.3-7

Occupations

Entry written by: JAV
Category: Person
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