Alexander Griswold arrived in the seaport town of Bristol, Rhode Island in 1804. After twice declining an invitation to become the rector of St. Michael’s Church, Griswold finally accepted the call to shepherd this small Episcopal parish. The historian Wilfred Munro writes, “The town numbered, perhaps, two thousand inhabitants. It was full of energy and physical vigor. Its wharves were lined with vessels from the West Indian ports, and it was just beginning to engage in the more extensive commerce with Europe and the East, that afterward made it so famous. But very little interest was felt in religious matters.” 1

Griswold was a hard-working pastor, laboring bi-vocationally to supplement the modest salary he received from his church. In addition to two Sunday morning services, he held Sunday evening lectures (the first in his denomination in New England). Though remembered as a gifted preacher, his preaching was described as “rather moral than evangelical…devoted more to the illustration and enforcement of the moral precepts and virtues of Christianity, than to the development and application of the spiritual truths and doctrines of the Gospel.”

Eight years later, the winds of revival began to blow. In his autobiography, Griswold wrote: “In the year 1812, there was in Bristol an awakened attention to the subject of religion, which was very wonderful, and the like of which I had never before witnessed. It commenced among the members of my parish, when no such thing was looked for, indeed thought of. No unusual efforts had been made with any view to such an excitement.”

What led to this spiritual awakening in the church? Griswold does note a change in his preaching—a change that we could say was “rather evangelical than moral.” He writes, “I had, no doubt, with more earnest zeal preached ‘Jesus Christ and him crucified.’”

The response to the rector’s earnest zeal in in preaching Christ crucified was significant. Griswold writes: “The change which I first noticed was the appearance of increased seriousness in the congregation; especially in leaving the church after service. There was little or no laughing, or merry salutation among the people; neither talking of worldly things. After the benediction, and a minute of private prayer, they retired silent and thoughtful. Some soon began to express a religious concern respecting their spiritual state, and were anxious to know ‘what must I do to be saved.’”

Griswold found the number of anxious inquirers too many for one pastor to handle. He soon began holding evening meetings for prayer and deeper conversation. Soon the number of inquirers increased to thirty; “and in a very short time the awakening was general throughout the town and was very wonderful.” That year he baptized 44 adults and 100 were added to the communion of the church. “These converts were not encouraged in ranting, or in any enthusiastic raptures; nor did they incline to any extravagance; but gladly hearkened to the words of truth and soberness; and very few of them afterwards turned from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

And the Lord Jesus was pleased to rain down His saving grace even more upon the town of Bristol. A sea-captain whose name has been forgotten had recently returned from a voyage. Upon the ocean, the preached word echoed in his soul, bringing him to his knees. That Sunday, after the sermon, the sea-captain rose from his seat. He quietly addressed the pastor while the congregation looked on with bated breath. Griswold turned to the assembly and said “My friends, Captain —— wishes to tell you what the Lord has done for his soul.”

Wilfred Munro’s retelling of the event from those who witnessed it is worth quoting at length:

“Then the quiet sailor told to the congregation the story of the change that had been wrought in him; told it without a thought of the unusual part he was assuming; told it in the simplest words, with no attempt at eloquence or effect, but with the wondrous power of God’s love so plainly before his eyes that the minds of all his hearers went with him upon the sea, and felt the struggle which had brought his soul out of darkness into light. Never, even, had the inspired words of their pastor stirred the people of St. Michael’s Church more strongly. When he ceased there was hardly a dry eye in the congregation. Only a few well-chosen words did the bishop add to intensify the lesson, and then dismissed his people with the usual benediction. From that day the revival became general. Through the town it spread, till the mind of every one was turned to thoughts of the life that was to come. The sound of the workman’s hammer was unheard for a season, the horses stood idle in their stalls, the noise of merry laughter ceased as the crowds of serious worshipers poured onward to the churches. For days these remarkable scenes could be witnessed; their effect could be observed for years—can still be traced, in fact.”

Of course, the fervor of revival settles down over time. This is natural. The ordinary lives of Christians run on the fuel of God’s ordinary means of grace. A young man named Stephen Tynge came to Bristol in 1819 to prepare for his ordination under Alexander Griswold. Tynge observed a church that appeared to be flourishing. Yet Griswold lamented the religious apathy that he perceived in his congregation and the town.

In early 1820, Tynge recorded that “Bristol was visited with a very remarkable revival of religion, the manifest work of the Spirit of God.” This also was not looked for nor indeed thought of. Their weekly meetings had not been largely attended, “partly perhaps owing to the weather, but more to the spirit of worldliness which had been spreading abroad.”

Tynge recalls a Friday evening meeting that was very poorly attended (“The aspect was very discouraging”). The following Sunday, Griswold became ill during his Sunday evening sermon and was unable to finish. He was escorted home. The church became deeply affected by the incident. “The first drop of a gracious shower,” according to Tynge, involved a young woman who was in “deep spiritual distress.” The pastor’s suffering had a surprising effect on the congregation as a whole. The next morning, as Griswold lay sick in bed, the people were being awakened. From house to house they earnestly discussed the event that had transpired and their own interest in spiritual matters. Tynge invited the people to attend their weekly Friday evening meeting (the one which had such a discouraging aspect the week before). The people demanded something sooner! Thursday evening the people gathered.

Stephen Tynge’s soul-stirring description of the months to come should be quoted in full for our benefit. Note that all this took place while the gale force, who was Alexander Griswold, was laid low in bed.

“It was with unbounded surprise that I went into the house at the hour appointed. It was crowded in every room, stair-case and entry, as if some unusually crowded funeral were there. But for ministering to this people, hungry for the bread of life, I was there alone. They had placed a Bible and Prayer-book on the first landing of the stairs. The people were crowded above me and below me, as far as my eye could reach, in the most eager attention to the Word. It was the most solemn assembly I had ever seen, and its impression upon my mind and memory, was overwhelming and abiding. But this was the commencement of months of work of a similar description; and from this day we had a similar meeting appointed for every evening. These were held in various rooms and houses throughout the town. The evening meetings were usually held in the Academy Hall. My whole time for about three month was given up to this one work. Three times every day I was engaged in addressing different assemblies in different parts of the town and of the surrounding country, and in conversing with awakened and anxious persons connected with these meetings.”

“Such a scene in human society as Bristol then displayed, I had never imagined. The whole town was given up to this one work. The business of the world was for a time suspended. The stores were in many instances closed, as if the whole week were a Sabbath. The general thought of the people seemed to be devoted to the now-great purpose of the soul’s salvation. The reality and depth of the impression were proved by the large number of persons who became truly the followers of the Lord Jesus.”

As the revival spread throughout the town, curiosity began to spread in the surrounding cities and towns. A ferry from Fall River brought a load of curious sightseers. When the time came for them to board the ferry for their return trip, the sightseers were nowhere to be found. Munro writes, “They, too, had yielded to the wonderful influences of the hour, and had joined the throng of worshipers. The next day the most of them went back, no longer scoffers but penitents.”

These works of God in the past provide hope for today. As I read accounts of revival in my town, tears fill my eyes and my heart races. The words of Psalm 44 come to my mind, “God, we have heard with our ears—our ancestors have told us—the work you accomplished in their days, in days long ago.” And Psalm 85:6-7, “Will you not revive us again so that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your faithful love, LORD, and give us your salvation.”

Revivals like these cannot be manufactured. The Bristol revivals happened “when no such thing was looked for, indeed thought of.” Revival is a gracious showering of the Holy Spirit. Yet, there are a few lessons that should compel us in our ministries today as we long for revival.

Stay Your Post and Preach Christ Crucified

Alexander Griswold was a pastor with gravitas in his community. No doubt, his reputation grew over time. In the yearly rhythms of life, a pastor’s character establishes his ministry for the years to come. Griswold was offered better-paying opportunities beyond Bristol, but he stayed his post in Bristol for 25 years. Not every pastor is called to a long tenure in the same place. Yet many pastors underestimate the great joys and benefits a long tenure brings.

More important, though, is the message that marks our ministry. Griswold’s early years were marked by teaching that was “rather moral than evangelical.” But in 1812, he began preaching Christ crucified like never before. This was not a strategy. It was a spiritual awakening of his own heart and mind. The result was that he preached the cross with “earnest zeal.” This is simply an outworking of what the apostle Paul knew, that the preaching of the cross is the power of God unto salvation (1 Cor. 1:18).

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do when ministers stay their post and with earnest zeal preach Christ and him crucified!

Let the Testimonies Ring Out for All to Hear

The account of the quiet sea captain who recounted his conversion before the congregation with “the simplest words, with no attempt at eloquence or effect, but with the wondrous power of God’s love so plainly before his eyes”—was the impetus for the revival to become general. Gospel testimonies display the multifaceted beauty of God’s saving power. A testimony testifies to how God still saves sinners. As these stories are heard, people are confronted with the good news that also might just be good news for them. Our small-town churches need to let the testimonies ring out for all to hear. Whether it’s in the Sunday gathering, at baptisms, in smaller groups, or even through social media, don’t neglect the power of God to use a testimony to bring a spark of revival.

Remember the Samaritan woman at the well who met Jesus. John 4:39 says, “Now many Samaritans believed in him because of what the woman said when she testified, ‘He told me all that I ever did.’” People come to believe on Christ when they hear a testimony about what Christ has done—at the cross and in our lives.

Watch and Pray

When revival came to Bristol again in 1820, it unfolded over the course of three months while their pastor was sick in bed. Prior to this time, Griswold was burdened for his church and certainly praying for them. During the revival, Griswold had nothing to do but pray. Jesus the Chief Shepherd took care of everything. What an illustration of our involvement and the Spirit’s sovereignty in revival. We are frail. God is Almighty! We need only watch and pray.

Fellow gospel laborer, don’t underestimate the power of God in your small place. He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think—even when no such thing is looked for nor thought of. To him be the glory!

Endnotes

1. All quotes and the account of the Bristol Revivals come from Wilfred H. Munro’s The History of Bristol, RI: The Story of the Mount Hope Lands (published in 1880).