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 PrintableVersion A Cornish revival: the life and times of Samuel Walker of TruroEffective and edifyingA CORNISH REVIVAL Samuel Walker (1714-1761) was one of the most prominent and effective evangelical ministers of the 18th century; a man who was used by God to a remarkable extent. The fact that he is not better known by today's evangelicals is probably due to the brevity and geographically circumscribed extent of his ministry which was largely limited to Truro and its surrounding districts. However, his reputation spread far and wide as did his writings which were much appreciated by many of his fellow evangelicals. He was held in high esteem by such men as John and Charles Wesley, in spite of their theological differences since Walker held firmly to Reformed theology. John Wesley, in fact, remarked that Walker was a better man than he was. Other famous men, both contemporary and later, such as Henry Venn, James Hervey, Thomas Haweis, Charles Simeon and J.C. Ryle, spoke and wrote very highly of Walker. Walker was at Oxford at the same time as the Wesleys, Whitfield, Hervey and William Romaine. Thomas Haweis was converted through Walker's ministry. When Walker was ordained as curate at the church of St. Mary, Truro (now a side chapel in the cathedral with Walker's pulpit still intact) he had no personal knowledge of salvation, but was an upright clergyman who enjoyed society and popular pleasures such as dancing. But he was converted through the influence of George Conan, headmaster of the grammar school. As a result his ministry was transformed and a period of revival began in the town. It was reported that in a period of seven years about 800 persons were converted and around 1,000 sought his counsel. Even other ministers, including John Wesley, asked his advice, though Wesley did not always follow it. This excellent biography contains many extracts from Walker's sermons and published writings, and also from his correspondence with other ministers and acquaintances. There are also samples of his counsel and extracts from his personal diaries, many of which are instructive, searching and edifying. Apart from the details of Walker's life and ministry, much light is thrown upon the social and spiritual conditions in Cornwall, upon early Methodism in its formative period, and upon the lives of several other worthies of the mid-18th century. The 21 chapters are fully annotated, and are followed by three appendixes and a bibliography. The only other full biography of Samuel Walker of Truro is that by Edwin Sydney and it is very rare, commanding a high price on the second-hand market. Tim Shenton has put us all in his debt by writing this informative and edifying book that cannot fail to bless and encourage the thoughtful reader. Stanley Jebb © Evangelicals Now - December 2003 |
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