Killylea (1859)



The revival now spread through Armagh in all directions. Meetings were held in private houses, in barns, and in the open air, On September 14th a field-meeting was held, to enable people to attend which excursion trains were run from Belfast and Dublin, About fifteen thousand persons were present. Dr Lynn presided, and addresses were delivered by ministers and laymen in different parts of the field. Deep conviction of sin seized many hearti4, and numbers fell to the ground crying for mercy. The Rev, Robert Huston counted eight of these congregations, and there were twenty-five professed conversions in the meeting- conducted by the Rev. Robert Hewitt. The quarterly love-feast was held soon afterwards, but the chapel was quite insufficient to hold the congregation. So one half went into the newly erected school-house, where they were ably addressed by the Rev. Henry Evans, while those in the chapel were favoured with a powerful discourse from Mr Huston. A number of persons were stricken and were then removed to the parlour of the adjoining manse, where the leaders prayed with them and pointed them to the Lamb of God. One girl, the daughter of a leader, was in deep distress, and cried out in an agony, "Lord, I cannot wait another moment. Have mercy upon me." The next instant she jumped up from her knees, clapped her hands, and with a countenance beam­ing with joy, sang the refrain of a then very popular hymn

"The Lord has pardoned all my sins;

That's the news, that's the news."

Many found mercy that day, and such a scene of rejoicing was witnessed as had never before been seen in the city. In addition to Armagh, the places on the circuit most largely blessed were Killylea, College Hall, Richhill, and Markethill. Hundreds were added to the Society, and new classes were organized in all directions.

At Killylea such numbers assembled night after night that the usual preaching- place could not accommodate them. Therefore a barn was rented, and in it hundreds were converted to God. One girl, who obtained mercy there, died soon afterwards, and her dying request was to be buried in the adjoining graveyard, as she wished to have her remains laid as near as possible to the place where God had spoken peace to her soul. The membership of the Primitive Wesleyans on this circuit was increased from three hundred and forty to one thousand.

From 'History of Methodism in Ireland', Volume III, by Crookshank, p519


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