Great Awaking of Virginia Revival Quotes
1775 “shaking among the dry bones” which “increased from week to week” “sometimes ten to twelve have been deeply converted of sin in one day…Numbers of old-and gray headed, of middle-aged persons, of youth age, of little children, were the subjects of this work” “out pouring of the Spirit” in an area of 400 -500 miles in circumstance of Dinwiddie. “power of the Lord came down upon the assembly like a rushing wind.” Note 1
“Recorded crowds of 2,000 to 3,000. A model for Methodist expansion for 40 years.
1775 Robert Williams, first Methodist preacher to visit the colony, carried the revival news to Francis Asbury on his arrival in Norfolk April 1775. From Asbury Journal “I met with Brother Williams from Virginia, who gave me a great account of the work of God in these parts—five or six hundred souls justified by faith, and five or six circuits formed.” Note 2, p 145
1775 “Methodism began as a revival within the Anglican Church in America, as well as in England.” Note 2 P 145 from Jarratt Autobiography
1775 Anglican Thomas Rankin of England on a preaching tour of Southern Virginia and North Carolina wrote “In both colonies the chapels overflowed with the large congregations and outdoor meetings had to be arranged.” “I scarce ever remember such a season. No chapel or preaching in Virginia would have contained one third of the congregation.” Everywhere on the circuit both blacks and whites were eager for the gospel and Rankin tells us that he was “preached” almost to the point of exhaustion. The same must have been true of Jarratt, also.” Note 2. P.148
1776 “ ..when such power descended, that hundreds fell to the ground, and the house seemed to shake with the presence of God. The chapel was full of white and black, and many were without that could not get in.”...”faces bathed in tears… My voice was drowned amidst the groans and prayers of the congregation.” Note 3
1776 Jesse Lee said “the greatest revival of religion I have ever seen.” Note 2. P 149
1787 Many were overwhelmed with emotion and broke out in loud praises to God, while others wept and praised the Lord with all their might”. Hundreds “were so overcome with the power of God that they fell down, and lay on the floor or on the ground.” Note 4
“..first day no less than 5,000 were present and the second day twice that number.” Open air meeting in Sussex.
1804 “… there was a huge at Suffolk, south of the lower James River. A zealot in the work of revival reported that it had been “a camp-meeting” and had begun “ on Friday and continued day and night within intermission till Monday evening.” During that time there had been upwards of four hundred souls, including the blacks… powerfully converted to God.” “ … many fell to the ground and cried for mercy,..” Meeting was at Smith’s Mill and led by Daniel Hall a Methodist evangelist. Note 5
1827 Camp Meeting on Williams Farm in Suffolk, at the fork of Pitchkettle Road and Murphy’s Mill Road. “Hundreds were concerted and Providence Church was established as an outgrowth of this camp meeting. Note 6
1865 In August “a gracious revival commenced and continued for nineteen days and nights, with the conversion of 77 persons, 25 united with the Suffolk Christian Church, and others uniting with Christian Churches in the county or with other denominations.” This was after the church was closed for two years for the Civil War. The pastor was Dr. W.B. Wellons, who was assisted by Rev. James Munoy of the Presbyterian Church, and the Methodist. Note 7
Great Awaking in Virginia 1740 to 1790
1720’s — German/Dutch Reformers down Shenandoah Valley
1740’s-1760’s — Presbyterian Starting in Hanover County
1787-89 — Hampden-Sydney College
1789 - ? — Liberty Hall Academy now Washington & Lee
1763-78 — Anglican centered around Dinwiddie County with Rev. Devereux Jarratt and Rev. Archibald McRoberts
1775-78 — Methodist with Anglican Rev. Jarratt in 29 counties in VA & NC
1785-88 — Methodist in Brunswick, Amelia, and Sussex Circuits
1755-59 — Baptist from Sandy Creek, NC to Culpepper in VA
1785-89 — Baptist in Northern Neck,VA
Sweet, William, “Virginia Methodism”, p 67. From Francis Asbury Journal Vol I., 208-224
Gewehr, Wesley M. “Thr Grest Awaking in Virginia (1740-1790)
Isaac, Rhys, ”The Transformation of Virginia 1740-1790” p.261. Contents from Anglican Thomas Rankin letter to John Wesley, on his visit to Virginia.
Sweet, William “Virginia Methodism” p 122
Isaac, Rhys, “The Transformation of Virginia” p 316
Providence UMC Church History
Suffolk Christian Church History
