Background of James Caughey’s Ministry
We have already documented several other revivals led by the American Methodist evangelist, James Caughey. We highly recommend reading these accounts chronologically to gain a comprehensive perspective on this man’s ministry:
► 1827-1841 New York & Canada Revivals
► 1841 Ireland Revivals
► 1842 Liverpool England Revival
► 1843 Leeds, England Revival
► 1843 Hull, England Revival
► 1844 Sheffield, England Revival

Evangelist James Caughey

The Start of the Huddersfield, England Revival
After James Caughey completed his role in the 1844 Sheffield Revival on September 8 of that year, he departed on a tour of France and Italy. At the conclusion of that tour he made his way to Huddersfield to begin his revival work there, which started on Sunday, December 1, 1844, and continued there till April 1845.

A Young Deaf Man among the Converted
During one of the services of the Huddersfield Revival, there was the conversion of a young man who was friends with a deaf man. This young convert, during a service, was communicating the Gospel message to his deaf friend using sign language. Caughey recalling that moment remarked:

The incident was deeply affecting and interesting, and in the end the youth was saved gloriously.

Caughey’s Health
At the close of the Huddersfield Revival (April 1845), Caughey’s health was “seriously affected.” He took a season off for recuperation, and during the next couple of months he made ministry trips to: Wakefield, Huddersfield, Liverpool, Sheffield, and Hull. At each of these locations, many souls were saved.

York Revival
On Sunday, June 15, 1845, Caughey commenced another series of revival services in the city of York. By the middle of July, the number of conversions reached 600.

Caughey credited his success in York not to his preaching, but to the overwhelming cooperation among the Methodist ministers and other leaders in their churches.

Centenary Chapel (now Central Methodist Chapel)

At the beginning of Caughey’s work in York, he ministered primarily in the smaller churches. When he relocated to the Centenary Chapel, “the effects of his ministry began to be strikingly manifest.” One man, commenting on Caughey’s ministry, wrote:

On July 21st, 1845, heard the Rev. James Caughey preach in the Centenary Chapel at York. The text was, ‘It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell.’ Of all the numerous slanders that have been propagated concerning this extraordinary man, surely one of the most senseless is that which lays to his charge that Christ, in his preaching, is not exalted, and sometimes not even named.

During one of the sermons, the chronicler of the above quote added this comment, describing the effect of his sermon:

The whole congregation seemed, in reality, to be at once ‘moved, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.’

Results of the York Revival
Within about 3 months, 2,000 people professed faith in Jesus Christ.

Revival Efforts in Other Cities
Following Caughey’s ministry efforts in York, in succession he visited other cities:

► After a week’s stay in Scarborough, there were 200 conversions recorded. Leaving there on October 8, 1845, he spent the next 14 days at the three following locations, the results being 730 conversions:
…. Huddersfield
…. Sheffield
…. Chesterfield

► Other Revival Locations
…. Doncaster—in one week, 526 conversions

► At the following locations, there were 400 saved every week.
…. Howley
…. Sheepbridge
…. Macclesfield

Five Months in Birmingham
On December 6, 1845, Caughey arrived in Birmingham and continued there till May. The results of the ministry there were about 4,200 saved.

Revival in Nottingham
Beginning on May 10, 1846, Caughey began his ministry in the city of Nottingham. In just one month, there were over 1,400 conversions. This led Caughey to remark:

The revival in Nottingham was more glorious than all.

From Sunday, May 31, till Tuesday of that week, Caughey made a side trip from Nottingham to minister at Castle Donington Methodist Church, resulting in 180 conversions to Christ. After those three days he returned to Nottingham and completed his ministry there on June 12, 1846.

Castle Donington Methodist Church

Lincoln Revival
About 14 days were spent in Lincoln, wherein 368 conversions occurred.

Boston Revival
In the city of Boston, Caughey tells of the battering he received from his opponents in the local newspapers:

Never have I had such a flailing from the public papers.

In spite of the vicious attacks, there were about 400 that were saved.

Sunderland Revival
After leaving Boston, Caughey traveled through Sheffield on July 23, 1846, then on to Borrowwash and Nottingham, preaching sermons at these locations as he made his way to Sunderland, where he began a series of services on August 2, 1846.

In less than 5 weeks, the results of the revival in Sunderland resulted in 938 people saved.

During Caughey’s stay in Sunderland, he took off one Sunday and ministered in South Shields. That one day visit resulted in 70 conversions.

Gateshead Revival
Next in line was Gateshead, where in just one week of ministry there were 126 conversions.

Some of the locations where James Caughey ministered while in Great Britain (1841-1847)

Recuperation and Final Labors in England
Becoming exhausted and his health deteriorating, Caughey departed for Scarborough on September 12, 1846, for a period of rest and recuperation. Following that much needed rest, he made short ministry visits through the winter and spring of 1846-1847, to Ashburn, Eutoxeter, Birstall, Todmorden Vale, Bourne (and other places), experiencing the same success he enjoyed in previous locations.

Results of Ireland and England Revivals
Being cautious not to overestimate the number of conversions in the various locations he ministered, Caughey has left us this tally showing the results of his ministry in Ireland and England.

Paddle Steamer of the 1840s

Departure from England
Completing his revival efforts in Britain, James Caughey boarded the paddle steamer Hibernia in Liverpool on July 20, 1847, to return to America. Upon his arrival in America, he seamlessly resumed his work, traveling extensively throughout Canada and the northeastern states of America. Additionally, he undertook three more ministry trips to England before his eventual retirement and eventual passing in 1891.

Revivals in his later years can be read here: 1847-1865 Final Revivals of James Caughey

Primary Sources
► Dictionary of Canadian Biography; Caughey, James by Peter Bush
► Dictionary of Evangelical Biography 1730-1860; Caughey, James by Richard John Carwardine
► Earnest Christianity by James Caughey
► Methodism in Earnest: The History of a Revival in Great Britain, in Which 20,000 Souls Professed Faith in Christ, and 10,000 Professed Sanctification by James Caughey

Secondary Sources
► Arrows from My Quiver by James Caughey
► Glimpses of Life in Soul-Saving by James Caughey
► Helps to a Life of Holiness and Usefulness by James Caughey
► Letters on Various Subjects by James Caughey
► Sermons & Devotionals by James Caughey by bibleportal.com
► Showers of Blessing from Clouds of Mercy by James Caughey
► The Life of General William Booth by Harold Begbie
► The Standing Doubt by James Caughey
► The Teachings of Holy Scriptures on Some Points in the Doctrines of Repentance, Faith, and Prayer by James Caughey
► The Triumph of Truth by James Caughey

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