Portessie (1860)




The next town is Portessie, about two miles from Findochty. The first night I spoke in. Portessie there was good done; many souls found the Saviour, and the blessed work is still going on.

Dec 1861. I then went to Portessie, where there were signs of the blessing even at the commencement of our first meeting, but before we separated the Spirit seemed. to be poured out on every soul in the meeting, and the people bowed them­: selves down before the Lord, and a great cry for mercy went up from both old: and young. Next day was the Sabbath, and we resumed our meeting at 4. P. M. when about six hundred assembled. We encountered some opposition on this occasion from a rather unexpected quarter, but the Lord restrained it, and the power of God was revealed in the salvation of several souls.

From 'James Turner,' by E McHardie

A correspondent of the Mail sends the following to that journal:--"To the astonishment, of the able-bodied and hardy crews who returned on Saturday to Portessie (after a few days' absence at sea), the entire place was under the deepest excitement. A kind of rude hall was found crammed with people of all ages and both sexes. Here prayers and praises, and cries, and groans, and sighs, may be heard day and night. No clerical agency, no missionary appeals, no lay harangues have been the origin of this extraordinary movement, that although it has been prevailing over this village for two or three days, none but the villagers themselves have guided it. It began thus: A few young men had been attending a reli­gious meeting at Findochty, a village about two miles east of Portessie, and about fifteen miles west of Banff. So much excited were they, that their employer shut up his workshop -- a cooper's—and now the greatest excitement is going on. A meeting, which commenced on Friday evening at six o'clock lasted till four o'clock next morning, and was resumed at ten A.M. When I called on Saturday, about one P.M., a scene presented itself to my view truly wonderful. Young people stretched out on forms labouring under strange sensations might be seen—indeed, were seen—supported in some cases by weeping parents or distressed brothers. One young man held.

From the 'Revival Newspaper', Volume II, p60.

Additional Information

This hall came out of the revival. It is now converted.


Related Wells