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

Evangelist James Caughey

The Start of the Sheffield, England Revival
James Caughey had just completed his role in the 1843 Hull Revival and departed that city on Saturday, May 4, 1844. His intention was to commence ministry among the churches in the city of Huddersfield. His initial work in Huddersfield met with phenomenal success, with conversions occurring in every service. However, after a week, a misunderstanding came to light between Caughey and the Methodist believers in Sheffield. They assumed Caughey was to minister in their city at that time. Because they had already invested substantial resources in the printing and distribution of flyers and posters promoting his itinerary in their city, they persuaded him to come to Sheffield, much to the disappointment of the Huddersfield believers.

Carver Street Chapel

Carver Street Chapel Prayer Meeting
Caughey arrived in Sheffield on Saturday, May 11, 1844, and the next day a prayer gathering was held at Carver Street Chapel, resulting in one person being born again. Later that night, following the special service, 29 more people professed their faith in Jesus Christ.

These prayer meetings were not known for being silent or passive, as Caughey remarks:

The noise was sometimes tremendous, but God was in it. No attempts were made abruptly to put it down.

Ebenezer Wesleyan Chapel
Initial services were conducted at Ebenezer Wesleyan Chapel, and at the outset of his ministry there, attendance was small. However, it gradually increased over time, along with the number of conversions to Christ.

Shouting Methodists
The Methodist of this era differed from the Methodist of today. Not only were the prayer gatherings boisterous, featuring fervent and loud prayers, but the regular church services were also filled with cries of…
► “Amen!”
► “Glory! Glory! Glory!”
► “Praise the Lord!”
► “Hallelujah!”

The report of these lively services drew in “sinners of every grade and character.” Some were uncomfortable with the loud shouting, but they were asked to remain patient as they were informed that the heightened excitement of witnessing so many conversions would soon subside. By the end of that week, there was more calm and decorum, and the revival was shown to be not dependent on noise but on an “influence from heaven.”

Ebenezer Wesleyan Chapel

Results of Ministry at Ebenezer Wesleyan Chapel
James Caughey’s initial work in Sheffield at Ebenezer Wesleyan Chapel took place from May 12 to June 3, 1844. During those 21 days, the results of the conversion of sinners were exceptional. We provide this chart to demonstrate the impact this revival had through just this one church during the Sheffield Revival.

Carver Street Chapel
The church where Caughey next began to minister was Carver Street Chapel. On the first Sunday, 167 people were converted, and hundreds more were saved following that initial service.

Caughey remarked about the progress of this revival:

The work is indeed glorious, beyond any thing I have ever seen before in the same space of time. All seriously disposed persons, so far as I have learned, are led to regard it as an extraordinary work of God.

Never have I beheld any thing equal to it.

Results of Ministry at Carver Street Chapel
Caughey preached at Carver Street Chapel from June 4 to July 5, 1844. The results in conversions to Christ during those 28 days totaled 825.

Brunswick Methodist Chapel

Ministry Moved to the Brunswick Chapel
On Sunday, July 7, 1844, James Caughey began ministering in Sheffield’s Brunswick Chapel.

Prophetic Insight during Sermons
James Caughey was clearly not a cessationist, as he wrote of how during his sermons he would speak prophetically with “miraculous accuracy” concerning the lives of individuals in attendance.

Many have been strangely wrought upon, while I have been relating some of the most secret parts of their character and doings. Although some of the congregation are frequently subjected to various charges from the convicted parties, who insist that “such and such a one” has been telling the preacher all about them, yet the results are often astonishing.

Outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Brunswick Chapel
On Thursday, July 18, 1844, Caughey mentioned “a most extraordinary effusion [pouring out] of the Holy Spirit in Brunswick Chapel.” The following is how Caughey described that “effusion,” which occurred at the close of his sermon:

Beholding the people much affected, I concluded to leave them with God. Hundreds fell down upon their knees at once. I requested them to talk with God, for he had come down among them in “very deed.”

Prayer became general over the entire chapel — galleries and all — two thousand people were bowed as the heart of one man. What could stand before this? Neither hell, sin, unbelief, devils, nor sinners. The power of God came down.

The supplications of believers for purity, and the piercing cries of penitent sinners for mercy filled my soul with amaze.

 I have witnessed a few scenes of the kind in the course of my ministry, but never any thing so universal and so tremendous, and, at the same time, accompanied with so little of any thing that could be imputed to human extravagance.

Results of Services at Brunswick Chapel, Sheffield
Here are the weekly conversion results from Sheffield’s Brunswick Chapel:

Some of the locations mentioned in this revival account, with perspective from major cities

Caughey’s Schedule
Not having a wife or family, James Caughey could fully devote himself to his ministry. Here’s the typical schedule he followed during his revival meetings:
► Preached six times a week
► Attended prayer meeting on Monday nights
► Saturday was the only night he kept for himself.

Results of the Sheffield Revival
► 3,352 sinners were converted to God.
► In a school of 500 girls, nearly 250 of them professed Christ as their Savior. One report of what took place in that school was as follows:

At one period it seemed as if the whole congregation of teachers and children were bowed down with the weight of the overshadowing glory. Hundreds were in distress; and it seemed a small matter for the whole school to be saved.

James Caughey’s reflection on the overall Sheffield revival was recorded with these words:

The revival in Sheffield surpassed any thing I had ever before witnessed: only think of such multitudes of immortal souls, saved in the short space of four months! I have sometimes feared I shall never again see such another work.

Conclusion to the Sheffield Revival
On September 8, 1844, James Caughey completed his part in the Sheffield revival. He then embarked on a tour of France and Italy, visiting famous cities and collecting illustrations for future sermons.

Upon completing his European tour, he returned to England. On Sunday, December 1, 1844, he embarked on his revival efforts, igniting the 1844 Huddersfield Revival, which continued until the beginning of April 1845.

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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