John Wesley 1738
Wesley returned from the USA in 1737 and stayed in London where he met with the Moravians, including Peter Boehler, who were meeting in Aldersgate Street. On May 24th 1738 in this venue on the edge of the City of London (today’s Barbican area) Wesley had his conversion experience of his “heart being strangely warmed”. A monument to this experience is located at the site today (photo). Wesley like Whitefield was not licensed to preach in London’s churches and preached in the open air reaching many who would not come in churches. Wesley established his London base just north of the then City in what is now Moorfields (near Old Street) where it remains today. Most of his ministry however, was across England which he travelled extensively.
The Clapham Sect 1790-1830
Clapham, an area of South London, became the centre for William Wilberforce and a group of wealthy Anglican social reformers who sought to use their influence in society to bring reformation. Their main focus was the abolition of slavery (achieved in 1807, 1833) but also established Sierra Leone, promoted Sunday Schools, and The Bible society.
Charles Spurgeon 1854-92
Spurgeon moved to London from Cambridgeshire in 1854. He was recently converted and only 20 years old. He was based initially in the New Park Street Chapel, in Southwark, South London but when the regular crowds for his preaching exceeded 10,000 moved to the Royal Surrey Gardens (also in Southwark, South London) and finally to the Metropolitan Temple which still stands beside Elephant and Castle (also in Southwark, South London). His ministry in London was unprallelled, at his death (1892) the City mourned and unlike any other preacher he was a minister who impacted London 1st, and the nation(s) second.
William Booth 1865-1890
Booth moved to Whitechapel, East London in 1865 and set up his tent and established what became to be known as the Salvation Army in 1878. William alongside his wife Catherine, preached to 1000s in the poorer area of London’s East End as well as providing for the obvious need. Although ‘army’ members were often mocked Booth also changed social attitudes towards the poor through his best-selling book “Darkest England and the way out.”
DL Moody 1875, 1884-5
Moody, an American Evangelist had visited England briefly in 1875 with Sankey who played the organ during his meetings. Invited by his friend Spurgeon, four months were spent in London and during that time they held 285 meetings using bases in the North (Islington), East (Bow), West/Central (Piccadilly) and South (Victoria). He also held meetings in the Royal Opera House to attract those from the higher societal circles. Within the first 3 days of his preaching over 80,000 had come to hear him, such was the impact of his ministry.
George Jeffries 1920s
George came with his brother Stephen to London in 1922 and moved the Elim HQ to Clapham, South West London. The next 10 years were incredibly powerful with healing evangelism crusades. Kensington Temple, an Elim church in Notting Hill Gate, West London still exists today and during refurbishment after Jeffries death in 1962 loads of crutches were found in its basement from those healing days.
Billy Graham 1954
Billy Graham had a developing ministry in the USA but it was the 1954 Crusade in London than established Graham as a . Based in the 11,400 seater Harringay Arena in North London the 12 week crusade saw over 1.5 million attend and 38,000 respond to the invitation to come forward. The final meeting in Wembley was attended by a still somewhat sceptical Archbishop but the initial hositility he faced in the media and government which tried to prevent