Preaching in the Fields
In February 1739 George Whitefield was 24, and many pulpits in Bristol were closed to him. So he walked out to Kingswood, where the coal miners lived, and preached on a hill. These are his own journal entries from those first weeks in the open air.
From Mr. Whitefield’s Journal, Bristol, February–March 1739
Excerpts. Only the passages about Kingswood and field preaching are given; other parts of each day’s entry are omitted.
Saturday, Feb. 17. [1739]
About One in the Afternoon I went with my Brother Seward, and another Friend, to Kingswood, and was most delightfully entertained by an old Disciple of the Lord.—My Bowels have long since yearned toward the poor Colliers, who, as far as I can find, are very numerous, and yet are as Sheep, having no Shepherd.—After Dinner therefore, I went upon a Mount and spake to as many People as came unto me. They were upwards of two hundred.—Blessed be God that I have now broke the Ice! I believe I never was more acceptable to my Master than when I was standing to teach those Hearers in the open Fields.—Some may censure me.—But if I thus pleased Men, I should not be the Servant of Christ.
About five, we returned full of Joy; and I wrote to the Bishop of Bristol (as I had done before to the Bishop of Bath and Wells) for Leave to preach in his Lordship’s Churches, for the Benefit of the Orphan-house. May God incline him to send me an Answer of Peace!
Wednesday, February 21.
At three in the Afternoon, according to my Appointment, I went to Kingswood amongst the Colliers. God highly favoured us in sending a fine Day, and near two thousand People were assembled on that Occasion. I preached on John ch. iii. ver. 3. and enlarged for near an Hour, I hope, to the Comfort and Edification of those that heard me. God grant the Seed sown may not fall on stony or thorny, but on good Ground.
About six in the Evening, I expounded to a Society without Lawford’s Gate, and afterwards to another in Baldwin-street; both were exceedingly crowded and attentive. At first I could not speak so strongly, because I had exerted myself so much upon the Mount; but afterwards God gave me a fresh Supply of Grace, and I was enabled to go through my Work cheerfully. Lo! I am with you always, even unto the End of the World.
Friday, Feb. 23.
After Dinner, I was taken very ill, so that I was obliged to lie upon the Bed; but, looking upon it only as a Thorn in the Flesh, at three I went, according to Appointment, and preached to near four or five thousand People, from a Mount in Kingswood, with great Power. The Sun shone very bright, and the People standing in such an awful Manner round the Mount, in the profoundest Silence, filled me with an holy Admiration. Blessed be God for such a plentiful Harvest.—Lord, do thou send forth more Labourers into thy Harvest.
Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Preached at Newgate, and expounded to the Societies, as usual; and intended to go and preach upon the Mount in Kingswood; but was dissuaded from it, by a Report that the Waters were out. However, many, as I was told afterwards, came from far to hear me; so that it repented me that I went not. When People are willing to hear, it is a Pity that any Minister should be slow to preach.
Thursday, March 1.
The Weather being fair, after I had preached, and collected Thirty seven Shillings at Newgate, I went on the Mount at Kingswood, where, about fifteen hundred Colliers and Country People were gathered together, and were very attentive to hear me. Blessed be God I preached with Power, and have Reason to believe, by what I have heard, that my Words have not altogether fallen to the Ground. Some of the Colliers, I find, have been much affected. Blessed be God.
Source: George Whitefield, A Continuation of the Reverend Mr. Whitefield’s Journal, from His Arrival at London, to His Departure from Thence on His Way to Georgia, Fourth Edition (London: James Hutton, 1739), pp. 30–31, 36–38, 41–42, 44. Scan at the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/continuationofre03whit. Public domain. Long “ſ” modernized to “s” and OCR errors corrected; spelling and capitals otherwise as printed.
From Daniel K. Norris
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