Bloxwich Music Hall (1863)



Bloxwich Music Hall was opened Sunday, Nov 15, for Revival services, It will seat about 1,000 persons. In the morning the band of men assembled at the hall being joined by a company of brethren from Nottingham an account of their labours at various places have appeared in your valuable paper. They unitedly missioned the streets and collected 600 to 700 persons of all classes of societyinto the hall and preached the gospel to them, many of them being deeply impressed, weeping on account of their lost condition. In the afternoon with very respectable and some of the lowest of characters--women without bonnets, men in their shirt sleeves and unwashed faces, the very picture of distress and all listening attentively to the words of eternal life. The evening service was crowded to excess, many unable to get admittance. The Nottingham band of men having left immediately after the noonday service for Wednesbury, a distance of five miles where they had engaged to speak to the people, the evening service was then conducted by another company and the Lord blessed their labours to many. Among the number was a man in good circumstances, the very ringleader of the lowest popular vices, namely, cock-fighting and dog-fighting.

Respecting Wednesbury, the writer, having been engaged in the services of last Sunday, will confine his remarks more especially to that time. The theatre in which these meetings are held will seat about 1,200 persons, and at each service, week nights as well as three services on Sunday, it is computed that near upon 2,000 people have been crowded into it, hundreds being unable to gain admittance. On Sunday evening such a collection of poor lost creatures I never before witnessed, but this class did not constitute the whole of the congregation, for there were many very respectable, well-dressed, and intelligent people among the number. The speakers for the evening were working men who labour hard for their daily bread. One was an old poacher, who seems to be a great favourite. At the prayer meeting at the close of the service some were weeping aloud for joy, others deeply impressed, many glorifying God with praises, while others were in
great fear. The magistrates at Wednesbury have sat as late as nine o'clock at night completely wearied out with their labours, but Jesus has been passing by and relieved them of their duties, for on Monday, Nov. 16, I am told, there was not a single case to bring before the bench.

"The Revival," December 10th, 1863.

At Bloxwich, about three miles from Walsall, we commenced Revival services on Sunday, Nov. 15. The interest here is very intense. The people tread one upon another. The place is nightly filled to suffocation. A great number have found their way to the cross.

"The Revival," March 24th, 1864.


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