Picture the scene. It’s 1860. It’s past midnight, well out
to sea off the Scottish coast. A calm night, the ocean is like a millpond. The
seagulls that had followed the fishing trawler during the day have headed back
to land. All is quiet.
Suddenly, from out of the quietness, out of the boat, comes
the sound of a hymn, sung for all it was worth:
O happy day that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Saviour and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
On Thee, my Saviour and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
For three days at sea, a young man was so troubled by his
lack of a relationship with God that he could not sleep and hardly could work.
Most of the crew had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and were able to talk to
him, eventually leading him to a step of faith that would change his life
forever.
Picture now the next night back on the mainland at the small
fishing port of Cellardyke in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland; a prayer meeting.
But no ordinary prayer meeting. If you were to walk into the Chapel, you would
see a group of young girls, aged 10 to 12 years. They are crying out to God for
mercy, seeking his presence in their young lives. ‘Come Lord and bless us!
Come and bless us!’ they cry.
Over the next months, Cellardyke is turned upside down. The story
of the young fisherman and the prayers of the girls led to meetings every
night. The different churches in the area worked together to arrange meetings
where many found faith. Many were aware of the revivals in the United States
and Ireland at this time and this further ignited their passion for more. From
March 1860 onwards, Cellardyke became known as a town in revival.
As one resident put it, ‘I never expected to see so much of
heaven this side of time.’
Further Reading:
The Second Evangelical Awakening In Britain – J Edwin Orr (second hand only)
