wesley worked as a conductor as well as a music teacher and lecturer. he seems to have been one of the pioneers of the british organ recital: prior to his time, entertainment was not considered appropriate for a church building. despite a reputation as the best improvisor on the organ in england, he never succeeded in obtaining an organist's post though he applied to the foundling hospital both in 1798 and 1813 and to st george's, hanover square in 1824. generally he appeared to be mistrusted by the british establishment, perhaps due to a forthright manner, his marriage arrangements and it is possible to speculate that he was unreliable. from 1815 onwards, he was beset by lack of money and depression. at one stage, he was reduced to asking vincent novello for copying work.