1859 Revival History
Nothing at all approaching the 1859 Revival has ever before visited our country. The whole of Ulster was caught up in the movement of God which began in the parish of Connor in County Antrim. It began amongst Presbyterians and it was largely through the zeal and devotion of Ministers of the Presbyterian Church that Christ’s Kingdom was advanced. However the Revival was not limited to Presbyterians. Many ministers of the Established church and smaller denominations played no small part in the great movement.
In the mid 1850’s the villages of Kells and Connor were rough godless places. There are many historical accounts of frequent brawls in the streets, of wild drunkenness even at funerals and of the general low spiritual condition of the majority of the people. Something dramatic was needed to transform the situation and the Lord did not disappoint.
In November 1856, a Mrs Colville, an English lady from Gateshead, arrived in Ballymena on a door-to-door crusade to bring the Gospel to the homes. She was fixed with zeal for her mission and rejoicing is seeing lost souls saved. As a missionary of the Baptist Missionary Society her mission brought her to County Antrim. She walked many miles and talked of salvation to many without seeing much outward fruit. However the Lord used her to plant a seed which would reap a harvest. One day she was visiting a home in Mill Street, Ballymena where she found two ladies who were involved in spiritual conversation with a young man, James McQuilken, who came from the townland of Connor about five miles from Ballymena. Whatever was said about salvation and conversion had a profound effect on McQuilken. He could not rest until he had sought Mrs Colville for further discussion. His conscience was pricked and he felt a heavy conviction of sin. However he was a proud man and it was only after weeks of struggling under great agony of soul that he at last found peace and rest through trusting Jesus.
Nothing at all approaching the1859 revival has ever before visited our country.
