1859 Revival in England

The 1859 Revival was a significant religious awakening that swept through the United Kingdom, leaving a lasting impact on the religious landscape of the nation. While often overshadowed by the more widely known Methodist Revival and the Welsh Revival of 1904, the 1859 Revival stands as a testament to the power of prayer, the fervor of lay involvement, and the transformative impact of the Gospel.

This report delves into the history of this remarkable period, exploring its antecedents, key figures, and lasting consequences.

 

State of Religion in England Prior to the Revival

Before the 1859 Revival, the religious landscape in England was marked by a decline in morality and religious fervour. The Church of England, though predominant, faced increasing competition from non-Anglican Protestant denominations ¹. This competition, coupled with the rise of skepticism and rationalism, contributed to a sense of spiritual apathy within the established church.

The rise of Deism, which emphasized reason and natural law over traditional religious doctrines, further eroded the strength of both the Church of England and Nonconformist groups ². Many clergy within the Church of England were caught in a web of corruption, neglecting their religious duties and embracing a life of luxury ³.

This spiritual malaise within the church coincided with societal issues brought on by the Industrial Revolution. The focus on material gain and the ill-treatment of workers, along with the brutality of the slave trade, further contributed to a sense of moral decay ³. This context of spiritual decline and social unrest created a fertile ground for a revival, as people yearned for a genuine encounter with God and a return to moral values.

Antecedents and Catalysts of the Revival

While the 1859 Revival had organic elements, it was not entirely spontaneous. News of the powerful revivals sweeping through the United States in 1857 and 1858, particularly the Fulton Street Prayer Revival in New York City, served as a significant catalyst ⁴. These reports, carried across the Atlantic through letters and newspapers, ignited a desire for a similar outpouring of the Holy Spirit in England.

The transatlantic communication of these revival accounts served as a spark, igniting a flame of hope and expectation in the hearts of many English Christians.

Simultaneously, a growing sense of dissatisfaction with the spiritual apathy within the churches fueled the yearning for a genuine encounter with God. Lay people, burdened by the lack of spiritual vitality in their congregations, began to take the initiative, organizing prayer meetings and seeking God’s intervention ⁶. This grassroots movement of prayer and seeking God was a crucial factor in preparing the ground for the revival.

Timeline of Events

Date	Event	Location	Significance
September 1857	Four young men begin meeting for prayer	Kells and Connor, County Antrim	Marks the beginning of the revival in Ulster
January 1, 1858	First convert as a direct result of the prayer meeting	Kells and Connor, County Antrim	Confirms the effectiveness of prayer and sparks further interest
Spring 1859	Revival spreads to Ahoghill and Ballymena	County Antrim	Demonstrates the contagious nature of the revival
September 1858	First united prayer meetings in England	Newcastle	Indicates a growing desire for revival in England
July 1859	United prayer meetings in Scarborough	Scarborough	Further evidence of the spreading prayer movement
August 1859	Revival in the Staffordshire collieries	Staffordshire	Shows the revival’s impact on working-class communities
September 1859	Daily prayer meetings organized in Crosby Hall	London	Marks the beginning of the revival in London
October 1859	Significant revival in Newcastle	Newcastle	Demonstrates the revival’s growing momentum
End of 1859	120 prayer meetings in London	London	Highlights the widespread impact of the revival
Second week of 1860	Worldwide prayer meeting	London	Ignites the revival in London
1860-1861	Peak of the revival in London	London	Period of intense spiritual activity and conversions

The Spark in Ulster

Although referred to as the 1859 England Revival, the awakening began in Ulster, Ireland in 1857. A young man named James McQuilkin, convicted of his sin after overhearing a conversation about salvation, experienced a profound conversion ⁷. He shared his newfound faith with his friends, and together they began meeting regularly for prayer and Bible study in a schoolhouse in Kells and Connor, County Antrim ⁶.

Inspired by the example of George Muller, whose ministry was characterized by answered prayer, they prayed earnestly for God’s blessing on their community ⁶.

On New Year’s Day 1858, their prayers were answered when a farm servant was converted during one of their meetings ⁶. This marked the beginning of a powerful move of God in Ulster, with increasing numbers of people turning to Christ. By the spring of 1859, the revival had spread to Ahoghill and Ballymena, with reports of overflowing churches and open-air meetings where hundreds knelt in repentance ⁶.

The Spread to England

The revival fire that ignited in Ulster soon spread to England, fueled by reports of transformed lives and fervent prayer. While the beginning of the revival in England is less clearly defined than in Ulster, it appears to have emerged organically in various locations, often sparked by prayer meetings and testimonies from those who had witnessed the awakening in other parts of the UK ⁵.

Early Signs and the Role of Prayer

One of the earliest signs of the coming revival occurred in Hayle, Cornwall, through the ministry of William Haslam, who witnessed a revival in his church from 1857 to 1860 ⁵. United prayer meetings, a key feature of the revival, began to spring up in different cities, including Newcastle in September 1858 and Scarborough in July 1859 ⁵.

These prayer meetings, often uniting people from different denominations, were characterized by a sense of urgency and expectation for God to move. By August 1859, revivals were breaking out in various Primitive Methodist Circuits and in the Staffordshire collieries, where hundreds were reportedly saved ⁵. These early outbreaks demonstrated the revival’s power to impact diverse communities, from rural villages to industrial centers.

London: A Centre of Revival Activity

London, with its large and diverse population, became a significant center of the revival. Daily prayer meetings were organized in Crosby Hall in September 1859, and by the end of the year, there were 120 prayer meetings across the city ⁵. The worldwide prayer meeting that took place in the second week of 1860 further ignited the revival in London ⁵. This global event, uniting Christians in prayer across continents, created a sense of momentum and expectation that God was about to do something extraordinary.

The revival in London reached its peak in 1860 and 1861, with reports of overflowing churches, open-air preaching, and numerous conversions ⁵. The movement gained momentum, with people gathering in churches, homes, and even public spaces to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit ⁵. To cater to the upper and middle classes, special meetings were held in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and various halls in the West End ⁵.

These meetings, often led by prominent preachers, attracted large crowds and contributed to the spread of the revival among the affluent segments of society.

Reaching Beyond England

The revival’s impact extended beyond England, reaching even parts of Southern Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, and Kerry ⁴. This demonstrates the contagious nature of the awakening, as the fervor for God spread across geographical and denominational boundaries.

Key Leaders and Figures

While the 1859 Revival was largely a grassroots movement driven by lay involvement, several individuals played significant roles in its development and spread. These leaders came from diverse backgrounds and denominations, each contributing their unique gifts and approaches to the revival.

Itinerant Preachers

Reginald Radcliffe and Richard Weaver were itinerant revivalists who travelled throughout England, preaching the Gospel with fervour and witnessing numerous conversions. Their meetings often overflowed with eager listeners, and many surrendered their lives to Christ under their ministry ⁵. Their ability to connect with diverse audiences and their passionate preaching style contributed significantly to the revival’s spread.

Charles Finney and the Temperance Movement

Charles Finney, known as the “father of modern revivalism,” also contributed to the revival in England. His unique evangelistic methods, honed during earlier revivals in the United States, had a significant impact on the churches where he preached ⁹. Finney’s ministry in London, particularly at the Borough Road Chapel, where he addressed a conflict over temperance, and among the United Methodist Free Churches, sparked revival fires that continued to burn throughout the summer of 1859 ¹⁰.

Finney’s emphasis on personal conversion and his innovative approaches to evangelism, likely influenced by the Temperance Movement, resonated with many and contributed to the revival’s momentum. His meetings at the Evangelical Union church in Edinburgh also led to a significant increase in attendance, demonstrating his ability to draw crowds and inspire spiritual hunger ¹¹.

Revivalists in Ulster and Wales

In Ulster, Henry Grattan Guinness and Brownlow North emerged as prominent revival preachers, drawing large crowds and proclaiming the message of salvation with boldness ⁸. North, in particular, was known for his powerful preaching, once addressing a crowd of 12,000 people in Newtonlimavady ⁸. Their ministry in Ulster played a crucial role in fueling the revival fire that eventually spread to England.

Although the focus is on England, it’s worth mentioning the leaders of the Welsh revival, Humphrey Jones and David Morgan ¹². Their influence in Wales likely had an indirect impact on the revival in England, as news of the awakening spread across the region.

The Role of Prayer in the Revival

Prayer was the lifeblood of the 1859 Revival. United prayer meetings, often spontaneous and fervent, were a hallmark of the awakening. People gathered in churches, homes, and even workplaces to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit ⁵. These meetings were characterized by a sense of unity, humility, and desperation for God’s intervention. In Wales, prayer meetings were held in diverse locations, including mountains, mines, and quarries, highlighting the pervasiveness of prayer during this period ¹³.

Children also played a significant role in the revival, particularly in prayer ⁵. Their fervent prayers and simple faith served as a powerful testimony to the work of the Holy Spirit. The revival’s emphasis on prayer underscores the importance of seeking God’s intervention in times of spiritual decline and societal unrest.

While prayer was a unifying force, the expressions of prayer varied. Finney observed the “noisy and demonstrative” prayers of the Methodists, which included praying loudly, pounding on benches, and multiple people praying simultaneously ¹¹. This diversity in prayer styles reflects the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the revival.

Opposition and Challenges

Despite its widespread impact, the 1859 Revival faced opposition and challenges. Some Catholics, particularly in Ulster, were resistant to the revival. One bishop attributed the revival to the influence of the devil and encouraged his followers to boycott the meetings ⁶. This opposition highlights the tensions that can arise during times of religious fervor, particularly when established religious structures feel threatened.

Another challenge arose from the physical manifestations that sometimes accompanied the revival. These manifestations, known as “prostrations,” involved individuals falling to the ground or experiencing other physical reactions during moments of intense religious experience ⁶. These occurrences caused controversy, with some questioning their authenticity and attributing them to emotionalism or even demonic influence.

Prayers and Practices

In addition to prayer, personal testimonies played a crucial role in spreading the revival fire. Converted individuals shared their experiences of God’s transforming power, inspiring others to seek a similar encounter with Christ ⁵. These testimonies, often raw and emotional, resonated with listeners and fueled the desire for genuine faith.

Immediate and Lasting Results

The 1859 Revival had a profound impact on individuals, communities, and the religious landscape of England. Thousands experienced conversion, turning from sin and embracing a new life in Christ. One individual testified, “The change I experienced was sufficient evidence to me of the divinity of Christianity. I was previously a lump of damnation and in that service I became a new creature” ¹³. This personal account highlights the transformative power of the revival on individual lives.

Churches saw a significant increase in attendance and membership, with many denominations reporting substantial growth ¹⁴. In England alone, an estimated 600,000 people were converted during this period ⁴. The breakdown of converts by denomination provides further insight into the revival’s impact:

• Church of England: 250,000
• Baptists: 100,000
• Congregationalists: 70,000
• Methodists: 200,000 ⁵

The revival also led to a renewed emphasis on personal holiness and social responsibility. Christians were challenged to live out their faith in practical ways, impacting their communities and addressing social ills. This led to increased involvement in charitable work, prison ministry, and efforts to combat social injustices such as poverty and alcoholism.

The revival’s impact extended beyond the immediate surge in religious fervor. It laid the groundwork for future revivals and contributed to the growth of evangelical Christianity in England. The emphasis on lay involvement and personal testimony continued to shape the religious landscape, empowering individuals to share their faith and contribute to the spiritual growth of their communities.

Beneficial Takeaways

The 1859 Revival offers valuable lessons for Christians today. It highlights the importance of:

• United prayer: The revival was birthed and sustained by fervent, united prayer. The example of the four young men in Ulster who sparked the revival through their dedicated prayer meetings demonstrates the power of united prayer to bring about spiritual awakening.

• Lay involvement: Ordinary Christians played a crucial role in spreading the Gospel and impacting their communities. The revival was not dependent on the efforts of clergy alone; rather, it was fuelled by the active participation of lay people who took ownership of their faith and shared it with others.

• Personal testimony: Sharing personal experiences of God’s transforming power can ignite faith in others. The testimonies of converted individuals served as powerful catalysts for the revival, inspiring others to seek a similar encounter with Christ.

• Social responsibility: True faith should translate into action, addressing social needs and injustices. The revival led to increased involvement in charitable work and efforts to combat social problems, demonstrating that genuine faith has a tangible impact on society.

The 1859 Revival serves as a reminder that God can move powerfully in unexpected ways, transforming lives and communities. By learning from the past, we can be inspired to seek a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our own time.

Conclusion

The 1859 Revival in England was a remarkable period of spiritual awakening that left a lasting impact on the nation. Fueled by prayer, lay involvement, and the transformative power of the Gospel, it brought thousands to Christ, revitalized churches, and sparked a renewed emphasis on personal holiness and social responsibility. Though less widely known than other revivals in British history, the 1859 Revival stands as a testament to God’s ability to move powerfully in unexpected ways, transforming lives and communities.

The revival’s significance lies not only in its immediate impact but also in its long-term consequences. It shaped the future of evangelical Christianity in England, emphasizing the importance of lay involvement, personal testimony, and social action. The revival’s emphasis on these elements continues to resonate in contemporary Christianity, reminding us of the power of ordinary believers to be agents of change in their communities and the world.

By studying its history and learning from its key figures and events, we can gain valuable insights for our own spiritual journeys and be inspired to seek a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our own time. The 1859 Revival serves as a powerful reminder that God can work through ordinary people to bring about extraordinary change, and that even in times of spiritual decline and societal unrest, there is always hope for renewal and revival.

 

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