Sleat (1843)



'In compliance with a very pressing request from Mr McQueen to visit Skye, I went in February [1843] by the steamer to Broadford, and remained during two weeks, preaching through the parishes of Strath and Sleat. The weather was very severe, with heavy falls of snow. We preached once every day, and frequently twice. Owing to the poverty of the people and want of accommoda­tion, we had sometimes to travel seven or eight miles over snow-clad hills; and, after preaching, had to return to Broadford without tasting anything, except cold water. On one occasion we travelled over a high hill covered with deep snow; the day was soft and rainy, and we had often to wade knee-deep through puddles of snow and water. In crossing a river, brother McQueen was almost carried away with the stream. We had several times to cross stormy lochs in small open boats. One cold night we slept in the same barn where brother A. Ferguson caught the cold, which issued in his death; but the Lord was our keeper. The sun did not smite us by day, nor the moon by night, and we were amply rewarded for all our labour, by seeing so many asking the way to Sion, and the people everywhere flocking to hear the word of God and listening with great atten­tion. We spent two days at a farm where several members of the church reside and were informed there were there more than twenty promising converts. Four of the number applied for baptism, and gave ample satisfaction; the baptism of the others was delayed. I was highly pleased with the promising appearances last year, but the prospect is now much more encouraging.'

By Alexander Grant, Tobermory; a minister who had come to Skye to help during the revival.

From ‘The Skye Revivals,’ by Steve Taylor, published by New Wine Press, p84-5.