The 1859 Ulster Revival spread out across the whole land family by family, village by village, and town by town. Within weeks 10,000 were converted. When this Revival hit Ballymena it was dramatic and sudden. One minister who was away for only two days from the town returned to find a great stir. Many families had not gone to bed for two or three days. Everything seemed at a standstill and the noise of people crying for mercy or the singing of praise came from many homes night and day. One Minister said that "The difficulty used to be to get the people into the church, but the difficulty now is to get them out." Large open air meetings were held everywhere. God was raising up a humble army of new converts ablaze with His Spirit to witness again to Christ's resurrection.
In Derry a daily prayer meeting of 5,000 was held and at least several meetings daily. In Coleraine united meetings of Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Independents and Baptists were held, working together with one heart and soul. One said of this place "For the last three weeks it has been one continual Pentecost." Almost every street in Belfast brought forth repentant sinners. The most notorious sinners, drunkards and prostitutes in the city were saved. Large open-air meetings of about 25,000 people were held in Belfast at which the Dublin Evangelist, H.G. Guinness, was the most greatly used in preaching.
One unusual physical manifestation was the prostrations, when men and women, sometimes as great multitudes, would be struck down under the conviction and power of God crying out in agony of soul and would rise up again born of the Spirit, redeemed and forgiven. As well some fell into trances and others had visions. The testimonies of the reaper overtaking the sower in the towns of Ulster would need a great volume but this is a partial witness of Gods great visitation in that year of grace to just a few places.
The life changing and society changing results were very evident. A great blow came to the drinking houses of the land as drunkards were convicted and saved. Even whole distilleries were closed. Crime dropped by half within months as the land came under the influences of Gods workings.
Those opposed to the Revival called it "The Year of Delusion" and "a corrupt revival." The Catholic Church sold Holy Water to protect their people from this strange work or as they called it a "revival Devil...new work of the Devil...an alarming contagious disease." But they did warn their people that even this holy water could not protect them if they dared to venture into any of these meetings.
One Catholic journalist in a Dublin Newspaper said he would accept the movement as from God if the Boyne Celebration passed without trouble in Durham Street, Belfast. This Protestant street each year would indulge in drink and a party spirit which culminated in riots and bloodshed. But this year under the influence of the revival such things gave way to prayer and praise and no trouble came forth. A minister in Dromara, Co.Down reporting the effects of the revival said "There is no party spirit; no Orange parade; no beating of drums; no exclamations, 'to hell with the pope' no wickedness towards the Roman Catholics." Reliable eyewitnesses testified that more Catholics were converted in 1859 than in the previous 50 years.
The Revival of 1859 brought 100,000 converts into the churches across the land. One minister said "It were worth living ten thousand ages in obscurity and reproach to be permitted to engage in the glorious work of the last six months of 1859." Wales also saw 100,000 converts added to the church (one tenth of the total population). In Scotland a harvest of 300,000 souls came in. Then in England a greater harvest still. Across Britain God raised up out of this harvest soul winners, evangelists and missionaries to carry forth the Gospel both at home and abroad.
In Derry a daily prayer meeting of 5,000 was held and at least several meetings daily. In Coleraine united meetings of Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Independents and Baptists were held, working together with one heart and soul. One said of this place "For the last three weeks it has been one continual Pentecost." Almost every street in Belfast brought forth repentant sinners. The most notorious sinners, drunkards and prostitutes in the city were saved. Large open-air meetings of about 25,000 people were held in Belfast at which the Dublin Evangelist, H.G. Guinness, was the most greatly used in preaching.
One unusual physical manifestation was the prostrations, when men and women, sometimes as great multitudes, would be struck down under the conviction and power of God crying out in agony of soul and would rise up again born of the Spirit, redeemed and forgiven. As well some fell into trances and others had visions. The testimonies of the reaper overtaking the sower in the towns of Ulster would need a great volume but this is a partial witness of Gods great visitation in that year of grace to just a few places.
The life changing and society changing results were very evident. A great blow came to the drinking houses of the land as drunkards were convicted and saved. Even whole distilleries were closed. Crime dropped by half within months as the land came under the influences of Gods workings.
Those opposed to the Revival called it "The Year of Delusion" and "a corrupt revival." The Catholic Church sold Holy Water to protect their people from this strange work or as they called it a "revival Devil...new work of the Devil...an alarming contagious disease." But they did warn their people that even this holy water could not protect them if they dared to venture into any of these meetings.
One Catholic journalist in a Dublin Newspaper said he would accept the movement as from God if the Boyne Celebration passed without trouble in Durham Street, Belfast. This Protestant street each year would indulge in drink and a party spirit which culminated in riots and bloodshed. But this year under the influence of the revival such things gave way to prayer and praise and no trouble came forth. A minister in Dromara, Co.Down reporting the effects of the revival said "There is no party spirit; no Orange parade; no beating of drums; no exclamations, 'to hell with the pope' no wickedness towards the Roman Catholics." Reliable eyewitnesses testified that more Catholics were converted in 1859 than in the previous 50 years.
The Revival of 1859 brought 100,000 converts into the churches across the land. One minister said "It were worth living ten thousand ages in obscurity and reproach to be permitted to engage in the glorious work of the last six months of 1859." Wales also saw 100,000 converts added to the church (one tenth of the total population). In Scotland a harvest of 300,000 souls came in. Then in England a greater harvest still. Across Britain God raised up out of this harvest soul winners, evangelists and missionaries to carry forth the Gospel both at home and abroad.
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