Background of James Caughey’s Ministry
Before delving into the 1842 Liverpool, England Revival, with the American Methodist evangelist, James Caughey, we highly recommend reading our previous revival accounts with Caughey:
► 1827-1841 New York & Canada Revivals
► 1841 Ireland Revivals
The first account contains essential background information on Caughey, detailing how he initially commenced his ministry. It also sheds light on the divine guidance that led him to Ireland and Great Britain. The second account explains how he initiated his ministry in Great Britain. Familiarizing yourself with this context will enhance your understanding and appreciation of this impactful man’s ministry.
Evangelist James Caughey
1842 Liverpool, England Revival
After concluding his ministry in Ireland, James Caughey boarded a ship in the city of Cork on October 29, 1842, with his destination being Liverpool, England.
After arriving in Liverpool the following day and after being invited to live with a family in their home during his stay, Caughey dedicated his time to prayer walking the streets, pleading for souls to be saved, as well as for opportunities to preach in churches.
The spiritual battle he faced was intense, and he expressed its intensity by recounting:
It would appear as if the devil were determined to contest this ground with me in a fiercer manner than in Dublin. I have groaned, and prayed, and wept much.
Months earlier, when he arrived in the city of Dublin, Ireland, to conduct ministry there, he faced the temptation to leave, as doors didn’t immediately open up for him to preach in churches. A similar situation occurred in Liverpool, yet he knew deep in his spirit that “God has a work for me to do here.”
Liverpool harbor – 1840
First Sermon in Liverpool
James Caughey’s first opportunity to preach in Liverpool occurred on a Sunday night, November 6, 1842, at the Woodside Wesleyan Chapel, located on the south side of the River Mersey.
The following night, he delivered another sermon at the Great Homer Street Chapel in Liverpool. During this period attendance was low, and by the end of the first week of services, disappointingly, only one person had converted to Christ.
After a week-long intermission from services, he preached once more at the Great Homer Street Chapel, and it was during this sermon that:
There was a great shaking among the dry bones…and from that night the work of God advanced with majesty and power.
This led to the conversion of 163 people, beginning on November 7. A special meeting was convened to recognize and provide advice, counsel, and prayer for these individuals.
Resolution to Resist Spiritual Opposition
James Caughey faced tremendous spiritual opposition in Liverpool. However, on December 13, 1842, he received encouragement from the Lord, which came from Isaiah 54:17:
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.
He firmly held onto this promise, and it resulted in a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit, during which:
► Scores of sinners were convicted of their sins.
► He was surrounded with tears and cries of those repenting of sins.
► Few could withstand this level of conviction.
Revival Movement Continues
By the end of the first week, twenty individuals had been converted. In the subsequent week, seventy more followed suit, bringing the total to 130 by the following week.
Several churches he mentions by name include:
► Pitt Street Chapel
► Wesley Chapel, Stanhope Street
► Mount Pleasant Chapel, wherein 12 were converted on the evening of January 1, 1843.
Up to this point, there had been no fewer than 270 conversions.
Locations mentioned in this account
Opposition to Revival
Despite the positive results of Caughey’s ministry, he faced continual opposition, primarily from other ministers who were concerned about their own and their church’s image of respectability. Caughey’s preaching and soul-winning methods were highly emotional, prioritizing the salvation of souls over the dignity or esteem of the clergy or the Church at large.
In his book, Methodism in Earnest, chapter 15, Caughey took the time to respond to his critics regarding his method of ministry. Here are a few of their critical opinions (refer to Chapter 15 to read his responses):
► You are using fear to convert people to Christ.
► Your discussions of hell stir up frenzied emotions.
► Your preaching merely stirs up emotions.
► You don’t appeal to a man of reading and intelligence.
► Your fiery preaching style has caused some of the educated class to stop attending.
► You neglect deep and sound doctrinal topics.
► The crowds you draw will damage the buildings.
► We were doing fine before you arrived.
► You have brought confusion to families, households, and the community.
► You can achieve the same results with sermons that are less severe and pointed.
► Your sermons lack structure, and language needs more attention to elocution (grammar, style, pronunciation, and intonation).
Welsh-Speaking Congregations in Liverpool
In addition to the English-speaking congregations, the Welsh community in the city had their own churches, and Caughey was invited to speak in them as well.
During a particular prayer meeting where Welsh and English-speaking believers gathered together, the presence of God was so overpowering that:
Restraint seemed impossible, and a general burst of “Glory to God!” from the English, mingled with the loud hallelujahs of the Welsh.
Caughey mentioned that when one of the notable Welsh ministers prayed in the Welsh tongue, even though he couldn’t understand the words, he wrote:
I felt my whole being arrested.
Conclusion of the Liverpool Ministry and Its Results
Despite the ongoing attacks against Caughey, including criticism from highly educated and respected men, he persevered in his ministry for five months in Liverpool. During this time, he delivered 120 sermons, resulting in more than 1,300 people who “found peace with God.”
Caughey departed Liverpool by train on April 21, 1843, heading to his next ministry destination, the city of Leeds, located 90 miles away. It was here that he enjoyed another powerful revival: the 1843 Great Revival in Leeds.
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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