Location of Shotts

Definitions
Kirk is a Scottish word for “church,” or more specifically the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The word kirk is also found in many places and personal names: Kirkland, Washington, Dunkirk, Peter Kirk, etc.

The Kirk of Shotts church is north of the town of Shotts, almost midway between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Kirk of Shotts: current structure built in 1821

Background Information
► During the 1500s -1600s, Scotland’s spiritual condition varied between the larger towns—which had established churches and ministries and an orderly society—and the villages and rural countryside which were still primitive. These primitive areas had rampant witchcraft and sorcery, along with lawlessness.

► “Readers” were sent into the rural areas to read portions of Scriptures, as well as to read prayers, but there were no established ministries in those areas at this time.

► Serious religious persecution was experienced at the whim of monarchs, magistrates, and the clergy. Persecution was first conducted at the hands of Roman Catholics toward Protestants (English Reformation), then among the Protestants themselves (Martyrs; Covenanters; Scots Confession; Five Articles of Perth).

It was in this environment that this revival occurred.

Introduction to the Story
John Home (some accounts say “Mr. Hance”), the minister at the Kirk of Shotts, hospitably entertained some wealthy ladies whose carriage had broken down close the parsonage (manse) he was living in. While the carriage was being repaired, the ladies noticed that the manse was greatly in need of repair. To demonstrate their gratitude for Home’s hospitality, they offered to build a new manse in a better location. Home, wanting to express his thankfulness, asked if there was something he could do for the ladies in return. They asked if he could conduct a special opportunity for Communion to be offered, and allow them to name the ministers who would assist (Robert Bruce being one of them). Home agreed, and the date for the Communion service was set for Sunday, June 20, 1630.

Robert Bruce (1554-1631)

Extraordinary Prayer
Prior to the revival at Shotts, there had been fervent prayer on the part of Robert Bruce of Kinnaird, in addition to prolonged social prayer on the part of the people.

Following the Sunday service on June 20, 1630, there was so much joy and peace experienced by those present that they didn’t want to leave on Monday morning without another opportunity for them all to express their thanksgiving and praise to God in a joint church service, and to hear another sermon.

When it was agreed that they would have a church service on Monday morning, the 27-year-old John Livingstone, who at the time was a chaplain to Margaret Livingston, Countess of Wigton, and not yet an ordained minister, was asked to preach at the service. Livingstone reluctantly agreed, feeling insecure with so many experienced and honored ministers being present.

Those who experienced the Sunday service were not able to sleep, after having had such an encounter with God earlier in the day, so they remained in small groups throughout the entire night, praying and discussing spiritual topics. They also had a strong inclination to intercede specifically for those not yet saved.

John Livingstone (1603-1672)

What Happened
At about 8 or 9 the next morning, with about 1,000 in attendance, Livingstone was filled with such insecurity that he walked away from his commitment. When he was almost out of sight of the church, he heard God speaking to him:

Was I ever a barren wilderness, or a land of darkness?

Those words were so overpowering that he returned to fulfill his agreed-upon commitment.

During Livingstone’s sermon that morning there was a tremendous unction that was granted to him as he spoke from Ezekiel 37:25-26:

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

As he was about to close, a heavy rain began to fall, and the people were putting on their coats and hats, and Livingstone continued:

If a few drops of rain so discompose you, how discomposed would you be—how full of horror and despair, if God should deal with you as you deserve? and thus he will deal with all the finally impenitent. God might justly rain fire and brimstone upon you, as he did upon Sodom and Gomorrah, and the other cities of the plain. But, for ever blessed be his name! the door of mercy still stands open for such as you are. The Lord Jesus Christ, by tabernacling in our nature, and obeying that law which we have wickedly and willfully broken, and suffering that punishment we have so richly deserved, has now become a refuge from the storm, and a covert from the tempest of Divine wrath, due to us for sin. His merits and mediation are the alone defense from that storm, and none but those who come to Christ just as they are, empty of everything, and take the offered mercy at his hand, will have the benefit of this shelter.

Livingston preached like this for about an hour, after he had finished what he had previously planned.

There was then such a powerful conviction of sin that fell upon the people that the audience was visibly moved. The end result was that about 500 people were converted.

Results of the Revival
Robert Fleming, the minister in the town of Cambuslang, reported the following about the service on that day:

Many were so choked and taken by the heart in hearing the word they have been made to fall over… who afterwards proved most solid and useful Christians.

Sources
► Forget None of His Benefits by RevBaker
► John Livingstone by Wikipedia
► Kirk of Shotts Revival by Wikipedia
► Land of Many Revivals by Tom Lennie
► Narratives of Revivals of Religion in Scotland, Ireland, and Wales by Anonymous
► Revivals of Religion by Charles Finney
► Robert Blair by Wikipedia
► Robert Fleming by Wikipedia
► Shottskirk by Wikipedia
► Significant Scots by Electricscotland.com
► The Life and Preaching of John Livingston by R. G. Philip
► The Revivals at Stewarton and Kirk of Shotts by Thomas M’Crie

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