The Welsh Revival of 1859

By the middle of the nineteenth century, Wales was spiritually weary. The fires of previous awakenings had dimmed, and many churches had settled into routine. Yet under the surface, hearts were stirring again. The reports of the Layman’s Prayer Revival in America inspired Welsh believers to seek God for a similar visitation. Humphrey Jones, a Methodist preacher who had witnessed the movement in the United States, returned home burning with holy zeal. Alongside him was David Morgan, a humble Calvinistic Methodist minister known for his depth of prayer and quiet devotion. Together they began to labor in intercession for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit.

The awakening began in late 1858 and quickly spread across Wales. Prayer meetings multiplied until nearly every chapel became a house of supplication. Preaching was marked by deep conviction and the unmistakable presence of God. ‘The Spirit came down as a rushing mighty wind, and every heart was bowed before His majesty,’ wrote one eyewitness. People wept openly, repented of sin, and made public confessions of faith. Taverns emptied, debts were repaid, and broken relationships were restored. The revival touched coal miners, farmers, and scholars alike. Congregations would often sit in silence for long minutes, overcome by the nearness of God’s presence. In both North and South Wales, thousands were converted within months. The entire nation felt the tremor of divine visitation.

The Welsh Revival of 1859 emphasized holiness, prayer, and full surrender to God. Ministers and laypeople alike preached repentance and the infilling of the Spirit. There was little concern for fame or denomination. The people of Wales rediscovered that revival is born in humility and sustained in prayer. Worship was pure and spontaneous, often led by the Spirit without human direction. Hymns became prayers, and prayers became songs. The central message was simple: Christ must reign in the heart without rival.

This awakening changed the spiritual climate of Wales and deeply influenced movements beyond its shores. Historians recorded that more than one hundred thousand people came to faith within a single year. The revival also strengthened the missionary vision of the Welsh Church, sending evangelists to distant nations. The stories of transformed lives reached America and Europe, preparing the ground for future global revivals. The 1859 Welsh Revival remains one of the most powerful testimonies of what happens when ordinary people take prayer seriously and seek God with their whole hearts.