The period between 1790 and 1840 was marked with a series of revivals right across Cornwall, which according to David Luker 10, were part of the second great Evangelical Revival. Large-scale revivals broke out in the Duchy in 1799, 1814, 1824 and 1832, with more local revivals occurring in between. The story of William Haslam and the happenings at Baldhu 11 also illustrate that things did not cease in the 1840s.
The story of the Bible Christians coincided with these Revivals, and so characterised the Movement that it retained the elements of revival far longer than the formerly established denominations that were impacted during their periods of influence.
Of the different Methodist strands that were a feature of 19th Century Nonconformity, the Bible Christians also fiercely retained their Evangelical theology. Shaw argues that "The Bible Christians were the heirs of his [Wesley's] evangelicalism, pietism and Puritanism more completely than they were of his churchmanship".12 For whereas Methodism generally "laid special emphasis upon the practical doctrines of experimental religion... among the Bible Christians the theology of conversion and sanctification was constantly emphasised".13 In fact one leading Bible Christian later exclaimed, "I would rather be a Roman Catholic priest than a Unitarian Minister"14, which considering the attitude of the Bible Christians towards "popery" emphasises the depth of their evangelical faith in the atonement.
Within fifteen months of their existence as a Church, the Bible Christians were experiencing their own Revival. In James Thorne's journal he recorded on the 19th December 1816, "We continued singing and praying until 1 o'clock the next morning; during which time one professed to have obtained peace with God, four that the blood of Christ had cleansed them from all sin, and many more were in great distress. It was a memorable day." – and then for Christmas Day 1816: We met at Lake,at four in the morning,to praise the Lord for the revival of His work, which left no place 'unwatered still and dry'. One received the evidence that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin; six found peace with God, and more were crying for it15. Then, at two o'clock in the afternoon when the people gathered, three fell while he was speaking, and others fell as they were praying. From here he had to hasten onto Milton Mill to hold a love feast, from which they dismissed the people about three in the morning. He went to bed at 7am on Boxing Day, only to be off to Bradford for a meeting at 3pm.
10. Quoted by Isaacs, page 64f
11. In 1851, the "Puseyite Parson" of Baldhu, just outside Truro, had an evangelical conversion during a Sunday morning service at his church during the preaching of his own sermon. This formed the starting point for another Revival within this area of west Cornwall. Haslam later recorded the story of his conversion and the revival within his parish in "From Death into Life".
12. Shaw [Bible Christians], page 104
13. Ibid, page 106
14. Ibid
15. F W Bourne "Bible Christians", page 40f