The Parish of Connor is rich in ecclesiastical history which some date back to the time of Patrick. It is also recognised as
the birthplace of a great time of spiritual awakening known as the ‘1859 Revival’.
The minister of Connor Presbyterian Church (founded 1658), Rev. John Hamilton Moore B.A., challenged some young men to “do something more for God”. Beginning in September, 1857 at Tannybrake, James McQuilkin, Jeremiah Meneely, John Wallace and Robert Carlisle formed a Sunday School and began to meet for prayer. Later they commenced a prayer meeting in Kells National Schoolhouse and numbers increased significantly.
Overwhelming conviction of sin appeared among local people, many of them seeking Christ for salvation. As numbers grew, the converts began to travel to tell their story in Ahoghill, Ballymena, Broughshane, Coleraine and across the Province of Ulster. A similar time of spiritual awakening was taking place in North America and Great Britain.
As a result of the Revival three of the nine pubic houses were closed and lives were delivered from drunkenness, profanity, evil habits, Sabbath breaking, quarrelling and cruelty of cock fighting. Testimony to the long term effects was the establishment of Kells Presbyterian Church and the local Gospel Hall. Some estimate that in Ireland 100,000 were converted to Jesus Christ.
“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?”
(Psalm 85:6)
For further reading;
God’s River in Spate: J.T. Carson, 1958
Heaven Came Down: John Weir, (first printed 1860, reprinted 1987)
The Second Evangelical Awakening: J. Edwin Orr, 1949