In 1904 revival came to Wales. The Welsh Revival transformed the nation. Here are some of the amazing characteristics:

1.Many conversions

In the first few weeks 100s were converted. Notorious drunks stayed indoors, afraid to come out, and then got saved when they did! People came from other districts to experience the revival. Many got saved. One older man got saved and asked people why they hadn’t told him it was this good! Every morning he went to work and you could hear him praising God! In two years of the revival, 100,000 were converted.

2.Society was changed

The fear of the Lord fell on the community, such that drinkers feared to leave their homes and owners of public houses feared to open them, so many were closed. The local football club in one town was closed because there were no more spectators. Instead, the street was full of people praising God and singing. A local band, all got saved and started playing hymns instead! There was no crime and so the police had nothing to do!

3.Churches were full

All the chapels were just left open and so people got up early every day and went straight to their local chapel to worship and pray and enjoy God. Even on Sundays, people got up early to get to the chapels at 6am! All the churches were full regardless of denomination. People just wanted to worship and pray. Mothers took their children and just returned to their houses to prepare a meal for their husband returning from work.

4.The presence of God was felt everywhere

A story is told of a father who came with his two daughters on the overnight train from Lancashire, England to visit the revival. When they caught the train to Wrexam, they asked how they would know they had arrived near there. The porter told them that they would feel it! They then had to walk 2 miles to the revival. Again they asked how they would know they had arrived and were told that they would feel it! The presence of God was so evident that people could actually feel it!

In the Welsh Revival people enjoyed life, not because they had things but because they were enjoying the presence of God. They enjoyed God anywhere, the pit, at home and in the chapel.

5.The Welsh Revival was started by a young man called Evan Roberts

He was a miner, who had started seminary but was told by God to return to his local church and start some meetings. After a while the church was packed with people repenting and experiencing God’s presence. The key was that he had been praying constantly for revival and then had experienced some personal visitations in spring 1904. The Holy Spirit woke him up daily at 1am every morning to commune with the Lord and he went back to sleep at 5am. In his own words during an interview with W.T.Stead (famous journalist and spiritualist):

For a long, long time I was much troubled in my soul and my heart by thinking over the failure of Christianity. Oh! it seemed such a failure—such a failure—and I prayed and prayed, but nothing seemed to give me any relief. But one night, after I had been in great distress praying about this, I went to sleep, and at one o’clock in the morning suddenly I was woken up out of my sleep, and I found myself with unspeakable joy and awe in the very presence of the Almighty God. And for the space of four hours I was privileged to speak face to face with Him as a man speaks face to face with a friend. At five o’clock it seemed to me as if I again returned to earth.”

This article is based on “Welsh Revival eyewitness account” an interview with an eyewitness of the Welsh Revival.

For more stories from revivals see my book GRACE OUTPOURINGS: 21 Days Revival Devotional

God is on the move today. Let’s pray for a fresh outpouring of The Holy Spirit on our city and nation.