When the Lord Walked the Land

Previous studies of revival have tended to approach these remarkable moments in history from either a strictly local or a sweeping national perspective. In so doing they have dealt with either the detailed circumstances of a particular situation or the broader course of events. These approaches, however, have given the incorrect impression that religious awakenings are uniform movements. As a result, revivals have been misunderstood as homogeneous campaigns. This is the first study of the 1859 revival from a regional level in a comprehensive manner. It examines this movement, arguably the most significant and far-reaching awakening in modern times, as it appeared in the city of Aberdeen, the rural hinterland of northeast Scotland, and among the fishing villages and towns that stretch along the Moray Firth. It reveals how, far from being unvarying, the 1859 revival was richly diverse. It uncovers the important influence that local contexts brought to bear upon the timing and manifestation of this awakening. Above all, it has established the heterogeneous nature of simultaneous revival movements that appeared in the same vicinity.
This is an original and thorough investigation which demonstrates the importance of local context in forming the character of Christian revivals -- a thoughtful and valuable addition to our current understanding.
-- Emma Macleod, University of Stirling
Dr. Jeffrey has provided a first-rate analysis of the 1858-62 revival of northeast Scotland. His conclusions are of great value in helping us to understand the dynamism of spiritual awakening in the community.
-- Donald E. Meek, University of Edinburgh

At a time when there has been a great deal of interest in the place of revival in the contemporary Church, there is considerable need for religious movements to be seen in their historical context. Ken Jeffrey does this admirably, in his splendid study of the 1859 revival in the north east of Scotland. His detailed and insightful analysis will repay careful reading and should serve as a stimulus to further investigation of this important topic.
-- Ian Randall, Spurgeon's College, London
Kenneth S. Jeffrey was born in Northern Ireland and studied history at Stirling University. After two years teaching in Malawi, he returned to Aberdeen to read theology where he gained a first-class honors degree. He continued his studies by researching the thesis that is the subject matter of this book. He is currently the minister of Cupar Old and St. Michael of Tarvit Parish Church in Fife.