“IN WALES today all is spontaneous. The dynamite is working, explosion follows explosion, and already scores of thousands of rough, hard stones have been loosened from the quarry of corrupt humanity… Is it to be wondered at that there is tumult and confusion? Better the confusion of the city than the order of the cemetery…”

This was the assessment of Jessie Penn-Lewis, the wellknown writer and speaker who founded the Welsh Keswick Conference and the ‘Overcomer’ magazine, written in the heat of the Revival.

The ‘dynamite’ impacted society in remarkable and far-reaching ways. Judges were presented with white gloves signifying no cases to be tried. The police became ‘unemployed’ in many districts as crime fell drastically. One story is told of policemen who closed their station and formed a choir to sing at the Revival meetings! Long standing debts were paid, and family feuds were healed.

Alcoholism was halved. The bars were deserted; dance halls, theatres and football matches all saw a dramatic decline in attendance. Gamblers and others normally untouched by the ministry of the church came to Christ. Public confession of sin and stubbornness became commonplace in meetings as the Spirit of conviction spread through gatherings.

In many places, shop keepers closed their businesses in order to hurry to chapel for meetings that might continue for many hours (though some, like miners on shifts, were able to ‘come and go’). “This is the finger of God” revivalist speaker, Gipsy Smith, reported: “It is the Acts the Apostles up to date.”

So many miners had been converted that pit ponies stopped work because they could not understand what was being said to them, so used were they to being sworn at and receiving blows! Revival prayer meetings before shifts became commonplace with hymn singing and testimonies, and there were frequent ‘underground’ conversions. Remarkably, industrial production spiralled upwards.

“Everything sprang into new life. It was the young people who responded with the greatest alacrity to the challenge of absolute surrender and consecration to the service of the Lord… With ever-increasing momentum, the movement advanced, creating unprecedented excitement among the churches and the secular institutions outside...” (David Matthews – ‘I saw the Welsh Revival’)

National newspapers also reported the events. The Times in London observed that “The whole population had been suddenly stirred by a common impulse. Religion had become the absorbing interest of their lives.” Local newspapers, like the Western Mail, daily carried reports of revival happenings and messages, including numbers of converts from different towns and villages!

Lloyd George, who later became British Prime Minister, saw one of his political rallies taken over by the Welsh Revival. He was deeply impressed as one girl prayed in the presence of 2,000 people. He became a firm supporter of the revival, longing for the effects to reach the political, social and economic life of the nation.

Some of the characteristics of the revival could not have been anticipated - the role of women, for example, who were inspirational in the gatherings and testimonies and often became the mainstay of the ongoing prayer life of local chapels. Women were also active in outreach, social and pastoral care:

“Young women knelt with vagabonds of the road who had casually turned in for a night’s lodging… they visited the homes also and cottage meetings became the vogue. In this way the influence of the revival was felt in the poorest dwellings… Monetary assistance was promptly given to dress neglected children and feed half-starved families… This was not the exclusive influence of any one locality. Cities, towns and villages throughout Wales felt the same…” (David Matthews).

Within the church, many who had counted themselves Christian knew life-changing experiences. There was also a new unity of purpose felt across the denominational divides. For some years afterwards, throngs of people filled all types of churches to capacity.

Remarkably, within six months, an estimated 100,000 souls were converted to Christ. Notable among these converts were George and Stephen Jeffreys, who later went on to found the Elim Movement; and David Powell Williams, the founder of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church. It also had a profound impact on Rees Howells, intercessor and founder of the Bible College of Wales.

However, the ripples in the pond spread far and wide. Many came from other nations to witness personally what was happening. Some criticised and others scoffed, but the majority were deeply touched and carried the Holy Spirit power back with them to their own nations.

The Revival was the farthest reaching of all revival movements. In time, it affected the whole of the evangelical cause in India, Korea and China, renewed revival in Japan and South Africa and sent a wave of awakening over Russia, Africa, Latin America, parts of Europe and the South Seas.

We leave the last word to one reporter on the Revival: “Today the dynamic is working. Is it a marvel that there are explosions? And where there are explosions is it a marvel that there is confusion? Out of the chaos will emerge the cosmos; out of the confusion, order and beauty and life… (S.B.Shaw)