Introduction
The Church of Jesus Christ on the Isle of Arran was at a very low state for 30 years leading up to this revival. Beginning in 1804, and into the next year, many Christians on the north end of the island, around Sannox, experienced a reviving of their faith in Christ. Their attitudes and daily conduct experienced a tremendous upheaval, and it laid the foundation for the much larger revival that would develop and blossom some 8 years later.

First Wave of the Revival
The revival emerged slowly–not via an immediate downpour following a thunderclap, or via a “rushing mighty wind”–it was a gradual spreading force, moving from one place to another. This slow spreading revival occurred as regular meetings were set up in locations where no church was established. It was through these meetings that the revival began to be seen throughout many parts of the island.

Characteristics of the Emerging Revival
► Deep conviction of sin and feelings of unworthiness due to an awareness of sin.
► Feelings of total helplessness to do anything about that sin, leading many to ask: “What shall we do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)

The number of revived Christians was small compared to the majority who were rejecting Christ. Even though the revived Christians were resolute in their faith, by 1810-1811, the surrounding communities were growing increasingly wicked, especially among the youth. This was a blatant effort to oppose the budding revival movement that was threatening the ‘liberties’ of the ungodly.

Extraordinary Prayer
The Christians, being aware of their culture’s descent into deeper darkness and away from any semblance of godly living, began receiving from the Lord an increased compassion and burden for the lost around them. This burden drove them to establish several prayer meetings for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and through it an awakening that would take place among those far from Christ.

This prayer effort involved entire days set aside for prayer and fasting, and they persisted in their efforts for almost one year.

Arran Countryside

Second Wave of the Revival
As the believers were persistent in their prayers for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in March of 1812 they began to experience unusual workings of the Lord in their midst—during their times of prayer. One account indicated that these workings “caused some surprise,” as they were uncommon and out-of-the-ordinary occurrences, which affected very young children and those of every age, even extending to those in their 60s. Some of the phenomena experienced were:

“Outcryings”
This is possibly descriptive of the Holy Spirit’s intercession through the believers, being evidenced by loud and bitter wailing, travailing, and intercession for the lost. These “outcryings” became commonplace throughout the revival.

The crying initially began among “the most tender, humble, and spiritual minded among them,” and it was only this grouping of believers that it affected at the early stage of the revival, but soon this “outcrying” began to be experienced by others.

“Bodily Agitations”
In conjunction with the “outcrying,” the believers of the era used the descriptive term, “bodily agitations,” to describe an additional working of the Holy Spirit. This phrase was further explained as having included:
► Panting
► Trembling
► Convulsing

“Ecstasies”
During meetings, people were said to
► Be filled with divine love.
► Cry out—or, rather, raise their voices loudly in praise to God.
► Be filled with overwhelming peace and joy.

The godly devout believers who experienced these manifestations said that “they could not have refrained, even if they had been threatened with instant death.”

Also during the sermons, when biblical truths were being expounded on, it was not uncommon for believers to experience “ecstasies of joy,” which would prompt them to speak out loudly, as one minister reported one godly saint to have said;

O the infinite virtue of the blood of Christ—the preciousness of his blood! What am I, what am I, that he should ever spend one thought concerning me! O my nothingness, my nothingness, my nothingness! I shall soon be with thee, I shall soon be with thee—be forever with the Lord!

Critics of revival often point to such manifestations in attempt to discredit or to bring the revival under what they would describe as “decency and order.” In opposition to those critics, notable and esteemed ministers of that era clearly endorsed the physical manifestations with these words:

It was truly the doing of the Lord, and marvellous in our eyes.

One of the ministers leading the revival (Angus McMillan, minister in Kilmorie) indicated that the “ecstasies of spiritual joy” were

Accompanied with great humility and tenderness of spirit, instead of being puffed up, they were, on the contrary, bowed down to the dust, under a sense of their privileges.

It was also these manifestations that helped to spread the revival throughout the island.

For those outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ, their experiences while participating in the revival services involved deep conviction of their sin, with a “painful sense of their helplessness and misery as sinners, and also with earnest desires after an interest in Christ.” This led them to call out in response to sermons being preached, with phrases such as:

O what shall we do? What shall we do? Wash us from sin.

The Revival’s Spread
The second wave of the revival began in 1812 and continued for about three months. It then experienced a pause and picked back up again in December and continued for another three months. The greatest influence was in the parishes of Kilmorie and Kilbride.

The Revival’s Conclusion
The revival began to fade and then ceased soon after the spring of 1813. Even though the revival faded, the Christians who had been revived, and those recently converted, continued to enjoy the presence of God and his favor, especially during planned communion services.

Results of the Revival
► An estimated 5% of the island’s population were converted (around 300). Arran’s estimated population in 1812 was 6,000.
► There was a great hunger for the Word of God.
► People flocked to the church and private meetings in homes, in which it was said “that the people, as it were, trod on one another.”
► People would travel 10-15 miles to attend services (this was by horse or by foot).
► After the sermon concluded people would often gather in houses or barns to pray or discuss spiritual topics—some even spending entire nights doing so.
► Several were called into the ministry.

Sources
► Arran Revivals by UK Wells
► Isle of Arran by Wikipedia
► Land of Many Revivals by Tom Lennie
► Narratives of Revivals of Religion in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales by Anonymous

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