Perthshire’s Revival Century. 1799-1905.

During the 19th century Perth and Perthshire were richly visited by God in revival power again and again. Detailed eyewitness accounts survive which mean we can not only read about God’s deeds in Perthshire in the past but we can have our faith stirred by them today. Thomas McCrie introduces this period in “The Story of the Scottish Church” writing in 1874, “The commencement of the present century may be said to mark the water-shed where the river of the Scottish Church separates itself into two opposite channels; that of Moderatism still running on, though in a gradually lessening stream, while that of Evangelism swells into an expansive size, till it gained a decided ascendency” (p518)

Underlying unrest and tension were increasing as the evangelical wing gradually grew to become the largest group by the General Assembly of 1834 and the scene was now set for the Disruption of 1843, when the Established Church split and the Free Church was formed. “Evangelicals laid emphasis on the great Christian doctrines of sin, grace and redemption, and their aim was to awaken in their hearers a deeper religious experience. Both parties alike acknowledged the authority of the Westminster Confession as the standard of the Church’s doctrine. (A Church History of Scotland, J H S Burleigh, p 328.)

Another important underlying issue from the end of the 18th century was the growing interest in world mission. The challenge of a life impacted by revival for many meant also being caught up in God’s global purposes so we find Alexander Duff from Moulin called to almost 50 years of pioneering missionary activity in India, John Milne left St. Leonard’s in the 1850s and served God for 5 years in Calcutta at great personal cost. From the St. Leonard’s congregation, David Sandeman was to follow his hero, W C Burns to China where he died two years later, aged 32. The waves of revival power that were poured out in Perth and Perthshire in the 19 th century were an expression of God’s love not just for those impacted locally but for the world.

1. Moulin. (Pitlochry) 1799-1805. Through a passing visit of the great evangelical preacher, Rev. Charles Simeon of Cambridge, the minister of Moulin, Rev. Alexander Stewart, was converted in 1796. Here is his own account of what followed. “The novelty of the matter, and some change in my manner of preaching, excited attention. People began to think more, and sometimes to talk together of religious subjects and of the sermons they heard. Seldom a week passed in which we did not see one, two or three persons brought under deep concern about their souls, accompanied with strong convictions of sin and earnest enquiry after a Saviour.” “I trust, I can reckon truly enlightened with the saving knowledge of Christ, I find their number about 70. The greater part of these are under 30 years of age. Several are above 40, six or seven above 50, one 56 and one above 70.” The immediate effect was evident. “Swearing, profane talking, foolish and indecent jesting in great measure ceased while revelry and drunkenness at wakes, funerals and on other occasions almost wholly disappeared.” Among the converts were James Duff and Jean Rattray, the father and mother of Dr. Alexander Duff, Scotland’s pioneer missionary to India. “The fruits of the revival are being gathered in yet from the ends of the earth.” (MacRae p 132-3.) (Rev A Stewart’s letter is quoted in full in “Restoration in the Church, Reports of Revivals 1625-1839, Christian Focus. P 67-78.)

2. Aberfeldy and Dunkeld. 1801-1803. (Haldane Institute Preachers) The Haldane Institute was formed by two aristocratic brothers from the Gargunnock area of Stirlingshire, James and Robert Haldane who, following conversion sold up their family estate in order to evangelize. They became friends of Rev. Charles Simeon and toured Scotland with him in 1796. In 1800 the Haldane Institute sent Mr. Farquarson to Aberfeldy to be a scripture reader in the district of Breadalbane. In the whole area there were no full bibles, only a few New Testaments. Ignorance was rife and opposition severe.

“Despite of opposition and neglect, he went from village to village, during the winter, reading the bible and speaking the words of salvation to all who would listen. In the spring of 1801 there was some awakening and

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early in 1802 . So extraordinary a revival took place that in a very short time there were about 100 persons, previously ignorant of the gospel who seemed to be truly converted. Their conversions occasioned a sensation.” MacRae p 134 In Dunkeld in 1803 it was reported that 145 people were converted by Haldane missionaries. (Children in Revival p 67.)

3. Aberfeldy. 1806. In 1806 Mr Kennedy became pastor of the Independent Congregation. He also taught in a school while his wife taught sewing. The Rev David Campbell of Lawers described Kennedy’s ministry.

“Scarcely a sermon was preached but some new case of awakening occurred, the moaning and sobbing like a flock of lambs separated from their dams. However busy at their lawful avocations the people might have been, when the hour of prayer was come all work was thrown aside and a rush to the barn, hamlet or hillside might be seen from every corner of the glen. I have seen your father (the letter was written to Mr. Kennedy’s son, Dr. John Kennedy, Stepney) stand almost knee-deep in a wreathe of snow, while at the same time, it was snowing and drifting in his face all the time he was preaching, and the people gathered around him patiently and eagerly listening to the fervent truths that proceeded from his lips.” (MacRae p 135-6.)

4. Loch Tayside. Glen Lyon, Killin, Lawers and Ardeonaig. 1816-1819. The famous John MacDonald of Ferintosh in the Black Isle, pictured below, who became known as “The Apostle of the North” came to preach regularly in Breadalbane up to the 1840s. Great congregations gathered to hear Rev. Robert Findlater, minister at Ardeonaig. He had been appointed in 1810 by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge. The aim of the SSPCK was to set up Sabbath Schools, to teach the gospel truths particularly to children. They appointed catechists to instruct children. Findlater reported much interest among young people between 1810 and 1820. In other areas of Perthshire Sabbath Schools were set up in Dunkeld, Inver, Lochearnhead and Comrie. The SSPCK also worked to provide tracts and libraries as part of their plan to promote reading of the scriptures. In 1767 they had produced the first Gaelic Bible in order to reach the people in the Highlands and Islands, most of whom only spoke the Gaelic. The SSPCK was happy to work with any other Christians but at the General Assembly of 1799 the Established Church tried to outlaw all Christian work not carried out by their ordained ministers, including Sabbath Schools. (See Sprange, Children in Revival, p 57-62 to read about the Haldane missionaries and SSPCK.)

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This is Mr Findlater’s account of the communion of autumn 1816.

“The sabbath day was the great day with us. The whole services were in the open air. I thought proper to give Mr. MacDonald the action sermon, to which he readily consented. It may be said, he came to us in the fullness of the gospel of peace. There was a vast congregation collected, between 4000 and 5000, for I spread the information far and wide. He preached 2 hours and 20 minutes from Isaiah 54:5. “For thy maker is thy husband” During the whole sermon there was hardly a dry eye. Eagerness to attend to the word preached was depicted on every countenance, while tears were flowing very copiously, and literally watering the ground. The most hardened in the congregation seemed to bend as one man and I believe, if ever the Holy Ghost was present it was there, but the general impression seemed to be a universal melting under the word.” Mr. MacDonald himself seemed to be in raptures. There were several people who cried aloud”

(MacRae p 136-7. See also Iain Murray, A Scottish Christian Heritage p 133-134.)

The work continued for about 4 years. This was before the Breadalbane clearances of the mid 19 th century so the population was high at this time. People were so hungry to hear God’s word preached that they would walk for miles around the loch or cross over from one side to the other in droves.

“Glenlyon was especially stirred. Young men from the glen crossed the shoulder of Ben Lawers every Sabbath to be present at the services at Lawers or Ardeonaig. At first they went in twos or threes, but as the interest increased their numbers increased until Glenlyon became the centre of an intense spiritual revival. Mr. James Kennedy of Aberfeldy went to the Glen on October 1816 not fully knowing how the Lord had prepared the way for him and to quote the words of his son “The effects produced by Divine love were such as led all to exclaim “This is the finger of God”. Day after day, and night after night crowds assembled in barns and under the shelter of the woods to listen to those strange things that had been brought to their ears. Sometimes amid bleak winds and drifting snows, with their lamps suspended, fairy like, from the fir trees which sheltered them, preacher and people were so overcome that the service was interrupted by the strength of their emotions. Mr. Kennedy found it impossible to leave the scene of this great work for some time and his flock in Aberfeldy were left for several Lord’s days to edify one another until sheer physical exhaustion drove their minister home.” (MacRae p 139-140.)

Entire families in Glenlyon were converted and there were only five or six families in the glen which saw no family member saved.

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5. Perth and Highland Perthshire 1839-1844 . The main tool God used in the revival that started in July 1839 was William Chalmers Burns (1815-1868.) He was the son of the Church of Scotland minister in Kilsyth and in 1839 he was 24 and newly ordained. He was on his way to Dundee where he was standing in for his friend, Rev. Robert Murray McCheyne , who was on his famous trip to the Holy Land and W C Burns stopped off in Kilsyth to help out at his father’s communion season. (Communion then was a three or four day long weekend celebration.) Rev W H Burns had a long interest in revival and aware of the revival history of his parish he had encouraged his congregation to pray for revival since he arrived there in 1821. W C Burns preached on Psalm 110:3 and while he was preaching weeping, wailing, tears and groans broke out, along with shouts of praise and joy. Some people screamed. Others fell to the ground. The meeting continued for 5 hours. From then on there were daily services and also hundreds met in the Market Square to pray early in the morning. In September another communion was held and between 12,000 and 15,000 people gathered from the town and also from across Scotland. The spiritual and moral condition of the town began to change. Every street had a prayer meeting. There were nightly sermons. The Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church and the Congregational Church were all involved.William Chalmers Burns then started an itinerant ministry in Scotland before going to China as a missionary in 1847 where he spent the last 20 years of his life. His life is well documented because his brother, Rev Islay Burns wrote a Memoir of his life in 1870 quoting from his journals extensively. They make exciting reading. W C Burns was part of a group of young ministers in their twenties who made a huge impact in Scotland at this time, leading into the Disruption. This was a time of religious upheaval in Scotland. The evangelical wing of the church was strong and it burst out from the constraints of the Established Church of that time to form the Free Church. Among the group of friends were Robert Murray McCheyne from Dundee, brothers’ Horace and Andrew Bonar (Andrew was the new minister at Collace, Horace was based in Kelso,) John Milne, the new minister at St Leonard’s Perth and the Rev. Moody Stuart, Edinburgh.In 1839 William Chalmers Burns was standing in for McCheyne at St Peter’s Dundee. A work of conviction had already started among the St Peter’s congregation of around 1000, a large proportion of whom were mill workers, but now it broke out like a pent up flood. Nightly meetings were held for almost four months and while there was weeping and falling to the ground there was also a solemnity and stillness and great attention was given to the preaching from the Bible. There was opposition and criticism from the Dundee Courier. The revival spread to the Carse of Gowrie, then to Collace. At the same time Rev. D Campbell, minister at Lawers found the years 1839-1844 to be very fruitful in the Loch Tummel and Loch Rannoch area.

Blairgowrie. A “prolonged and concerted spiritual revival” (Robertson, Awakening p 96) occurred in Blairgowrie where the Rev. Robert Macdonald ministered. He was a friend of McCheyne and members of St Peter’s travelled to Blairgowrie to assist the work there. The church in Rattray and the Independent Chapel were also involved. By the end of 1840 thirty regular prayer meetings were being held in Blairgowrie. Before the revival there were none. The Independent Chapel held daily meetings morning and evening in 1841 at which the chapel became packed.

Perth. In 1838 the Rev John Milne (1807-1868) came to Perth to be minister at St Leonard’s Church. Built in 1834 the building is now the furniture auctioneers in King Street, looking towards Canal Street. Rev. Milne noticed that the congregation were aware of what was going on in Kilsyth and Dundee in 1839 and longed that revival would not pass them by. He invited William Chalmers Burns to preach in late 1839. The revival began on 31st December when a crowd gathered spontaneously at the church looking for spiritual counsel. They would not go home till 2.00 or 3.00am. The next day over 200 people sought out W C Burns for personal counsel. So it went on for some three months with two daily meetings at St Leonard’s and every evening the church was packed. On the eve of Queen Victoria’s marriage, 10th Feb 1840 there was a great firework display on the Inch and the preachers expected a poor turn out that night. However, the church was still crowded

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with people standing in the aisles. Children and young people were particularly drawn to John Milne and W C Burns and flocked round them. In 1840 there were over 200 people added to the communion roll at St Leonard’s and most of them were young people. (Lennie, Land of Revivals p 344.) Burns also preached with much fruit at Perth’s West Church. Many churches however barred him from their pulpits.From Perth Burns started to make evangelistic journeys across Perthshire and Fife, then to Aberdeen and beyond. Highland Perthshire proved to be very receptive. There was considerable opposition to Burns and the revival from newspapers who misrepresented those involved implying that manipulation and showmanship were going on. Insults about Burns and Milne were also chalked on the walls of St Leonard’s. (Lennie, Land of Revivals p 342.) The well known Sandeman family of Perth were part of the St Leonard’s congregation and they were greatly influenced by John Milne and W C Burns. David Sandeman was influenced by a sermon of Burns in 1839, aged 13 then converted aged 18. He studied at the Free Church College before following WC Burns as a missionary to China in 1856, where he died of cholera in 1858 aged 32. He was passionate about the righteousness of Christ and about proclaiming the message “The blessed Jesus is all my righteousness.” (Men of the Burning Heart. G N M Collins. P 124.)

W C Burns Journal Extracts. Perth Wednesday January 1, 1840. Meeting in the forenoon in Kinnoull Street Church. Mr Bonar of Collace present, and officiated along with Mr Milne, Mr Turnbull and myself. We met with many interesting cases in the vestry. This meeting went on from 11.00 till 4.00. (Islay Burns, Memoir p 142.) W C Burns preached often at Mr Turnbull’s church in Kinnoull Street.Perth Tuesday February 18th, 1840. Drove out to Stanley in a gig, gave tracts all the way; well received. Afternoon, with Mr Mather the minister in closet; a humbling season. Evening, immense crowd in the spacious church (a thousand people work in the mills) subject Luke 24:47; more aided than ever on the subject. A very solemn season, many met me deeply affected as I retired. Walked home to Perth seven miles, arriving at half past twelve. (Islay Burns Memoir p 148. Lennie Land of Many Revivals p 345.)

Sabbath March 22nd 1840. WC Burns was preaching at St Leonard’s, inspired by Jonathan Edwards, on Deuteronomy 32:35 teaching that sinners are kept out of hell moment by moment only by the long suffering of God, that they were suspended by the hand of a long suffering God over the pit of hell, provoking him to let them go and fall into the flames, especially by rejecting Jesus, his unspeakable gift. He described what happened in his journal: “These statements appeared to be accompanied with an extraordinary measure of the Holy Ghost, and the feeling of the hearers became so intense that when one man in the gallery passage audibly exclaimed “Lord Jesus, come and save me” the great mass of the congregation gave audible expression to their emotion in a universal wailing. I immediately changed the theme - - pressing Jesus on all as God’s free gift.---- To me, looking from the pulpit, the whole body of people seemed bathed in tears, old as well as young, men equally with women. When the impression became so deep and overpowering, many that did not like, or did not understand, such a glorious manifestation of the divine power, were offended and one man came up the stair of the pulpit and asked me to dismiss the people! After I had prayed and sung with the people for a considerable time beyond the usual period - - I pronounced the blessing and asked them to disperse. --- Hardly any, however, would go away and even after all the lights in the church but two had been one by one extinguished a few hundred still remained in the church. - - - This glorious night seemed to me at the time and appears from all I have since heard, to have been perhaps the most wonderful that I have ever seen, with the exception perhaps of the first Tuesday at Kilsyth.” This refers to the evening of Tuesday July 23rd 1839 when the revival started. (Rev. Islay Burns, Memoir of W C Burns, p 151-152.)

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Monday 3rd Jan 1840. Journal of Andrew Bonar – He commends W C Burns as a man of prayer. The lesson God is teaching me is this, that William Burns is used as the instrument where others have been labouring in vain, because he is much in prayer, beyond all of us. It is not peculiar words he uses that God blesses. (Andrew Bonar, Diary and Life p 57.)

Rev. John Milne . Old St Leonard’s Church. Rev. Andrew Bonar in old age.

Breadalbane. 1840. The Rev. Duguld Campbell of Lawers hearing of the revival in Kilsyth invited William Chalmers Burns to visit Lawers, the area around Loch Tay. A gracious move of the Spirit was the result. W C Burns Journal. Sabbath Aug 23rd. Breadalbane, Ardeonaig. There was an immense assembly, collected from a circuit of from 12 to 20 miles which could not amount to less than 3000. Mr M’Kenzie began in Gaelic at eleven. I succeeded him in English at one, preaching from Ezekiel 33:11.

The following are extracts from Rev. Duguld Campbell’s report.

“In the preaching of Mr. Burns there was something which told his hearers that he was earnest for the salvation of their souls. He dwelt continually on the love of Emmanuel in laying down his life for sinners; but it was chiefly during prayer that the results which fell under our observation took place. There were no children addressed apart from the congregation, yet there were a number of young persons from the age of 13 and upwards, of both sexes, deeply impressed under the preaching of Mr. Burns : and we have reason to bless God that we can point out some in this congregation who have been made subjects of divine grace after Mr. Burns left us. Those awakened were all respectable as to their moral character, with the exception of very few. We must observe that there are very few, indeed, in this congregation who deserve the name of notorious drunkards, yet some who have been in some degree addicted to drinking are now become shining characters; and others who neglected both family duties and public ordinances are now become very remarkable for their diligence in the use of the means of grace.

There were sobs, groans and cries to be heard among the awakened in this place; but the work of God’s Spirit in convincing of the evil of sin and the sinner’s need of a hiding place from the storm was particularly manifest in floods of tears on every cheek, when they looked unto Him whom they had pierced.

One fainted in this congregation but there were no convulsions. I can never forget the feelings of my soul on that evening when, owing to the voice of lamentation that filled the church, I was obliged to stand for some time without saying a word in the pulpit. This took place when I was preaching for my dear friend, the minister of Grandtully.

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I may mention that we were longing for such a change. Prayer meeting were kept up. Reports of revivals in other parts of the world were regularly laid before the people, and these statements were greatly blessed in stirring up the people to seek the Lord. I may state, also, that since the revival the people are most eager in their attendance upon the means of grace; that the solemnity which appears in our assemblies is most remarkable and that the work of the Lord is still going on, and the people keeping together.” (MacRae p 143-145.)

Islay Burns included this journal entry in his book as “Balnagard – Interesting Incident.” (Memoir p 211.) Wednesday September 16th, 1840. Being tired last night and having told the servant that she need not awaken me in the morning, I slept until past ten AM, and got up, fearing to be too late for the Lochlomond coach which passed up to Grandtully on the other side of the Tay at eleven o’clock and trembling at the thought of being hurried so quickly through my secret duties. I got hastily ready and without taking any breakfast got my luggage ready and set off. On reaching the ferry boat I learned to my grief that the coach had passed fully a quarter before the usual time and was already out of sight and that thus, I was left to walk a distance of six miles. I went on with my bag in my hand thinking that Lord might have some design of a gracious kind concealed under this frowning occurrence; and when I had gone about one and a half miles and was passing through the little village of Balnagard I discovered one which fully explained his mysterious intention. For after I had passed a great number of people engaged under the burning sun in cutting down and also in gathering in the plenteous fruits of the earth, two men in the prime of life came running to meet me, evidently under concern about their state and pointing to a school house beside us, the shutters of which were shut in consequence of it being the harvest season, pressed me to meet the people there though it were but for half an hour. I went in and in the course of no more than seven minutes the room was crowded to the door by people of all ages from the child of seven to the grandfather of seventy. We prayed, I read the 70th Psalm in metrical version and made a few remarks on the last eight lines; then we prayed again and I came away leaving these dear people in as solemn a frame to all appearance as I have ever witnessed any audience. There could not be fewer than one hundred and twenty present and among these I hardly saw one that was not shedding tears.”

A week in the life of W C Burns. From April till August 1842 W C Burns was again in Perthshire running his usual extremely busy preaching schedule, covering miles on horseback on his “fine fast trotter.” Here is how he spent the week from 14th to 21st August, 1842. His companion wrote the following to Islay Burns. “He was a famous rider and sat on his horse like a knight. On Sabbath the 14 th August he preached at Blair Athole for five hours in the churchyard to an assembly of at least 4000 persons and in the evening for three hours to an audience who would have remained till daybreak. On Monday evening he rode to Moulin, and preached to a deeply affected audience. On Tuesday he rode to Kinloch Rannoch (20 miles) and preached in a park at the south end of the bridge from two till five o’clock to an interesting congregation of shepherds, gamekeepers, foresters, graziers, cattle-dealers etc gathered from both sides of Loch Rannoch After a hurried dinner he struck across the west shoulder of Shiehallion, one of the most difficult and trackless passes in the highlands – taking a guide part of the way, to Fortingall (18 miles) rode six miles to Lawers, crossed Loch Tay to Ardeonaig – preached there on Wednesday at twelve and recrossed the lake, preached at Lawers the same evening. On Thursday he rode down to Grandtully (17 miles) and preached with great power in the churchyard to a dense crowd from Hebrews 9:27-28 which made a deep impression, many of the audience being in tears. On Saturday morning he started at six for Balnaguard, preached there at seven o’clock to a large company many of whom got saving good under his ministry previously – caught the mail cart at half past eight, reached Edinburgh in the evening and preached thrice in St Luke’s the following day.” (Rev. Islay Burns, Memoir p238-240.)

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Report on the Revival to the Presbytery of Aberdeen. A record of what happened in the revival of 1839-1840 was requested by the Presbytery of Aberdeen, which was rather sceptical. Ministers involved in the revival such as R M McCheyne, W C Burns and Rev. Andrew Gray of Perth West Church were given detailed questions to answer. The Presbytery wanted to know if this was a true outpouring of the Spirit or the work of man. To their credit they decided it was the former. McCheyne, Burns and Gray responded very graciously to this grilling. Incidentally John Milne and Andrew Gray had been great friends since their student days. (The questions and answers are produced in full in “Awakening” David Robertson, appendix B, “The Life of John Milne of Perth” p 40-60,by Horatius Bonar and “God’s Polished Arrow, W C Burns” by Michael McMullen, P 57-66 giving interesting and detailed insight into these men and these times. )

The Disruption. This was the time of the Disruption of 1843 when massive upheaval took place across Scotland. In May 1843 four hundred and fifty four ministers of the Church of Scotland left the established church to form the Free Church of Scotland. The movement was led by the evangelical Thomas Chalmers. The issue was of spiritual independence, the freedom of the church from the state and from patronage (local lairds had power to call ministers to churches in their lands even against the wishes of the congregation.) For the Free Church the issue was clear – either Jesus was Lord and Head of His church or He was not. Many made great sacrifices leaving church buildings, manses, salaries and security. Among those who left the Established Church were W C Burns with his father and John Milne. Robert Murray McCheyne had died, aged 29, in March 1843 to the great distress of his congregation and many friends. His friend and partner in the trip to Palestine, Andrew Bonar, published a Memoir of Robert Murray McCheyne in 1844 which made a great impact then, and still does today. It is Andrew Bonar’s greatest legacy to the church and a great encouragement to faith and personal holiness.

Rev. William Chalmers Burns

In 1854 William Chalmers Burns made a return visit to Scotland from China and preached again with great pleasure in Highland Perthshire. In the meantime John Milne had gone to Calcutta as a missionary from 1853-1858. Following the death of his first wife and his own failing health he returned to Perth and took up the

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charge of Free St Leonard’s for a second time. He had the privilege of being in Perth for the 1839-1842 revival as well as the revival of 1859-1860. Milne was a very hard worker, often pushing his body to the point of great fatigue and illness in his desire to bring the gospel to his congregation and to people in rural parts. He once waded 13 miles through deep snow to help his friend Rev. George Smeaton at his Auchterarder Communion. (Bonar. Life of John Milne, p 77.) However hard he worked he put devotion to Christ before working for Christ saying “We want to put him in our debt by bustling to and fro. There are hundreds of Marthas for one Mary .” (Men of the Burning Heart. G N M Collins p 117.)

Aberfeldy 1855. Charles Spurgeon had first preached in Scotland in 1855 at the age of twenty-one. At that time one of his first impressions of a Scottish congregation was hardly encouraging. He wrote of a service at Aberfeldy: 'After prayer and singing I began to preach; but there were no eyes of fire, and no beaming countenances, to cheer me while proclaiming the gospel message. The greater part of the congregation sat in apparent indifference; they seemed made of lumps of ice. I tried all means to move them, but in vain . . . I felt like the Welshman who could make Welshmen jump, but could not move the English. I thought within myself, "Surely your blood is very cold here, for everywhere else I should have seen signs of emotion while preaching Christ and Him crucified."' Yet this first impression was soon corrected as he goes on to say: 'Feeling rather sad at our singular service, I went into the street, and was delighted to find that, although cold as marble in the building, they were now hearty and full of feeling.' Beneath the sombre countenance of the Highlander Spurgeon found men whose life-long attachment to his gospel-preaching was exceeded by no other part of the British Isles. It was also a benefit to him to gain the acquaintance and friendship of such Scottish evangelicals as Brownlow North, John G. Paton of the New Hebrides and David Livingstone. (http://www.cblibrary.org/biography/spurgeon/spurg_v2/spau2_15.htm)

Rev. Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

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Follow up Canal Street to find old St. Leonard’s Church opposite on King Street on this 1851 map of Perth.

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6. Perth and the 1859-1860 Revival. There was national revival in Scotland in these two years. Much prayer for revival had taken place and the revival was welcomed everywhere. The ministers of Perth invited the evangelists Reginald Ratcliffe and Richard Weaver to come to preach in the area. More congregations in Perth were affected by the 1859 revival which was more widespread than the 1839 revival.

The ministers of Perth arranged to have three days of open air meetings on the South Inch in the early Autumn of 1860. The first series of meetings was so successful that an annual “Perth Religious Conference” followed every year through the 1860s. Writing in 1867 Rev. John Milne looked back at the amazing events of September 1860:

“ I remember that, on the morning of the first day, a number of Christian friends met in my house, facing the South Inch, within a stones throw or two of the picturesque spot where, shaded by a clump of trees, the stand for the speakers was erected, and a large tent pitched for the anxious and inquiring. There was more fear than faith in that little company; but we did the best thing we could in the circumstances – we knelt down with one accord and called on the Lord. One began, another followed in the same strain, and another and another, without interruption till the supplication went round the whole circle. It was really one prayer uttered by many voices. Somehow as we went on, we seemed to breathe more freely, our hearts were enlarged, our hopes became buoyant. We rose from our knees and all turned to the windows and what a sight met our eyes! Thousands were already assembled and hundreds were trooping in from all quarters. We felt that the Lord had gathered them and that he was now going forth with us to the battle. When the service began, it was thought that seven or eight thousand people were collected. Soon came the answer to prayer; the arrows of the King were sharp; the tent was filled with anxious souls; little groups were here and there, all over the Inch, conversing, kneeling in prayer, or praising God for light and salvation.

In the evening they met in the City Hall, crowded with from two to three thousand persons and the Lord was present to wound and to heal. The second day resembled the first and so did the third. But towards the close of the meeting the Spirit seemed to come as a rushing wind and speakers and hearers were alike astonished.”Following the success of these first meetings “the hall was taken for a week and then indefinitely and for seventy nights in succession it was crowded as at the first; and seven or eight hundred persons remained night after night to be conversed with. It was a great harvest; the ministers of the town laboured lovingly together; and each reaped fruit unto eternal life.” (Horatius Bonar. The Life of John Milne of Perth p 310-312.)

Rev. John Milne wrote a letter in the local paper to the people of Perth in the autumn of 1860.

“After nearly two years of prayer and waiting, the Lord has visited us in unexampled mercy. You are yourselves witnesses of the events of the last fortnight – you saw the multitudes that gathered together at the open air meetings on the South Inch, and crowded the City Hall and other places at night. Those of you who mingled with these assemblages could not but have observed the solemn impression which prevailed and also must have heard expressions of interest, conviction, prayer and thanksgiving from many a lip. In particular at the close of the meeting on the second night , the City Hall presented a scene never before witnessed on such a scale in Perth; it was like a battlefield, a harvest field; hundreds were seeking the Lord or rejoicing that they had found him. Blessed be God for such a season; and yet dear friends, had this been all we should not now be addressing you. Had the movement stopped at this point, we might have attributed it to the presence and labours of those ministers and laymen from a distance, whom the Lord has so greatly honoured and blessed in other places. But God has shown us the truth of his own word “Not by power, nor by might but by my Spirit saith the Lord.” After all the visitors had left us, the meetings continue as crowded, as solemn, as earnest as before. It even seems as if the impression were deepening and growing from night to night.

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Men comprehend at once that they are lost, helpless, without strength and that the Lord Jesus is all they need. They feel that He is near them, that He is knocking at their door, is stretching out his hands and that it is only a look, a cry, an act of reliance and the day dawns upon them and their peace begins to flow as a river. God is willing and waiting to give you his Son. Are you willing to receive him? Then He is yours.” (MacRae p 145-148.)

Impact on young people. Harry Sprange in “Children in Revival” describes how spiritually responsive young people were at this time. Using contemporary reports he writes of a schoolboys lunchtime prayer meeting among the boys aged 8 to 14 at the Free Church school in Auchterarder which grew from 14 to 35 in 1860. Up to 25 girls were also meeting to pray separately. A young people’s prayer meeting in Comrie in 1863 gathered between 20 - 30. Evangelists Reginald Radcliffe and Richard Weaver came to Perth in 1860 and held meetings for young people in the City Hall. When Richard Weaver preached in Crieff the Scotsman reported “a large number of young girls sobbed aloud.”At a meeting in Bridge of Earn in July 1860 about 20 boys and girls were deeply moved. (Harry Sprange. Children in Revival p 208-212.)

Cargill 1860. Journal of Andrew Bonar. May 12th 1860. Last week, remarkable awakening in my old neighbourhood, St Martin’s, Cargill etc. I feel the blessedness and the necessity too of getting far into the very presence of God and standing under his shadow. It is then that we are prayerful. I think I distinctly see the answer to prayer in former days in what is now taking place at Cargill; it is God giving what He enabled us to plead before I left, Jer 33:3. (Cargill is a hamlet on the banks of the Tay, opposite the Ballathie House Hotel.) After 18 years as minister at Collace, Bonar left for Glasgow in 1856.He returned regularly to Perthshire to preach, on this occasion it was only 6 weeks after his little son, Andrew died.

Glen Lyon. 1861. Glen Lyon experienced another revival under the minister Duncan Campbell who was saved in January 1817 at Ardeonaig. He was the minister in Innerwick, Glen Lyon from 1837.

1859 was a remarkable year. There was a widespread outpouring of the Spirit of God in the United States, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland. It was also the year of the publication of Darwin’s “The Origin of Species.” Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote in 1959 “There is no doubt but that it is Darwin’s book that is governing the outlook of the vast majority today, not only in the world, but also, alas, in the church.” (Dr. M Lloyd-Jones.Revival. P 24.) How much more is this the case today!

7. Perth and Perthshire. 1870s and 1880s. Waves of blessing came to Scotland late in the century through the visits of Moody and Sankey first in 1873-1874 then again, though less strongly, in 1881-1882.

Perth 1874. Meetings for children were held in Perth for five weeks in preparation for the visit of Moody and Sankey from May 30th.Large numbers of children were converted and brought their friends to the meetings. (Sprange. Children in Revival p 322-323.)

Grantully. 1874-1875. Charles Spurgeon visited the area around Grandtully and after seeing the beauty of the area said it was “a fit vestibule for heaven.” Spurgeon had first preached in Aberfeldy in 1855 and he returned to Scotland often. Spurgeon’s writings, tracts and sermons were distributed across Scotland to a wide readership. Here is the Free Church minister from Logierait, Rev. Munro’s description of what happened in 1874-1875.“During the past seven months a mighty movement of grace has been experienced throughout the valley of Strathtay. Begun with a week of prayer, a spirit of expectancy was evoked. Prayer meetings and evangelistic services were largely attended. Mr. Sankey’s hymns were introduced. A new spirit of life was experienced by

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God’s people and many are now rejoicing in the Lord singing, “Safe in the arms of Jesus” who but a short time ago were utterly regardless of all these things.” (MacRae, p 149-150.)

Dunkeld 1882. Rev. Macpherson of the Free Church in Dunkeld was involved in Moody’s campaign in Glasgow, visiting for a week and taking part in the work. He returned home inspired and started a series of evangelistic meetings where he spoke about what he witnessed in Glasgow. In almost every family an interest in divine things was awakened and many came to faith in Christ. In the years 1882-1884 sixty two people were added to the Communion roll of Dunkeld Free Church. Other churches in the vicinity shared in the blessing. (Lennie. Glory in the Glen. P 42.)

Alyth. 1889. The Free Church minister in Alyth reported an awakening among the young people in the area in 1889 which started with his wife’s Bible study for young girls. A number became deeply awakened and began to be concerned about the salvation of others. Boys were drawn to the meetings too. Later parents, impressed by the changed lives of their young people started coming and other meetings were started. (Lennie. Glory in the Glen. P 407.)

8. Blairgowrie 1905. William Oatts, a minister of the United Free Church in Glasgow came to Blairgowrie invited by the Blairgowrie and Rattray YMCA as part of his evangelistic work following his recent return from visiting the Welsh revival. His meetings in the town from 8th January caused a sensation in the area. In the second week 1,100 people crowded into Blairgowrie’s Public Hall and 200 were turned away so they had to change the venue to St Andrew’s Church which could take up to 1,400. At one meeting 100 Boys Brigade members and 30 adults professed conversion. The Blairgowrie Advertiser reported on 14 th Jan 1905 “Last night at the children’s gathering fully 150 of the older girls made an intelligent acceptance of Jesus as their Saviour.” Oatts came back in 1906 for another mission also holding fruitful meetings in Kirriemuir and Perth. (Lennie. Glory in the Glen. P136 and Harry Sprange, Children in Revival p 362-364.) Robert Duncan. January 2016.

C H Spurgeon’s Prayer for Revival.

O God, send us the Holy Ghost! Give us both the breath of spiritual life and the fire of unconquerable zeal. O Thou art out our God, answer us by fire, we pray Thee! Answer us both by wind and fire and then we shall see Thee to be God indeed. Thy kingdom comes not and the work is flagging. Oh that Thou wouldst send the wind and fire! Thou wilt do this when we are all of one accord, all believing, all expecting, all prepared by prayer. Lord, bring us to this waiting state! God send us a season of glorious disorder. Oh, for a sweep of the wind that will set the seas in motion and make our ironclad brethren, now lying so quietly at anchor, to roll from stern to stern!Oh, for the fire to fall again – fire which shall affect the most stolid! Oh, that such fire might first sit upon the disciples and then fall on all around! O God, Thou art ready to work with us today even as Thou didst then. Stay not, we beseech Thee, but work at once.Break down every barrier that hinders the incoming of Thy might! Give us now both hearts of flame and tongues of fire to preach Thy reconciling word, for Jesus’ sake! Amen!

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Book List.Andrew Bonar. Diary and Life. Banner of Truth.

Horatius Bonar. The Life of John Milne. Banner of Truth.

William C Burns. Revival Sermons. Banner of Truth. (Sermons preached in Perth from 1840-1844 and a letter to the people of Highland Perthshire, 1841.)

Islay Burns. Memoir of the Rev. William C Burns. M. A. 1870.

J H S Burleigh. A Church History of Scotland. Edinburgh Hope Trust.

G N M Collins. Men of the Burning Heart. Knox Press Edinburgh.

Dr John Kennedy. The Apostle of the North. The Life and Labours of the Rev. John MacDonald D D of Ferintosh.

Tom Lennie. Land of Many Revivals. Christian Focus.

Tom Lennie. Glory in the Glen. Christian Focus.

Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Revival.

Rev. Alexander MacRae. Revivals in the Highland and Islands in the Nineteenth Century. 1906.

J Douglas MacMillan. Restoration in the Church. Reports of Revivals 1625-1839. Christian Focus Publications.

Thomas McCrie. The Story of the Scottish Church. Free Presbyterian Publications.

Dr. Michael McMullen. God’s Polished Arrow. W C Burns. Christian Focus.

David Robertson. Awakening. The Life and Ministry of Robert Murray McCheyne. Paternoster.

Harry Sprange. Children in Revival. Christian Focus.

Arthur Wallis. In The Day of Thy Power.

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Robert is the pastor of Oasis Church Perth. For over twenty years he has been fascinated and inspired by reading revival history and he loves to share this passion. Looking back to the great works of God in the past inspires us to look to God to work in power in the present.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Habakkuk 3:2 “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O

Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”

Genesis 26:18 “Isaac reopened the wells that had been dug in the time of his

father, Abraham, which the Philistines had stopped up after Abraham died, and he gave them the same

names his father had given them.”

The story of Perth and Perthshire in the 19th century is a story of wells of living water being opened by our fathers – the believers living here at that time.

This area has a rich spiritual inheritance. May reading through these stories from the past inspire us to dig deep in the present.

*~*~*~*~*If you have any information about moves of God in Perthshire’s Revival Century not included here or you would like to purchase more copies

please email : robertandkimduncan@hotmail.co.uk

More information about Scottish revivals can be found at www.oasischurchperth.org

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All proceeds from this booklet will go to

the Barnabas Fund who work to support persecuted and

displaced Christians around the world.

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www.barnabasfund.org

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Suggested donation £2.00

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