This week in Christian history: Polish Protestants to America, John Henry Newman, 3rd Great Awakening

‘Third Great Awakening' begins in New York - September 23, 1857

This week marks the anniversary of when a religious movement known as the “Third Great Awakening” or the “Layman’s Prayer Revival,” began in New York City.

Jeremiah Calvin Lanphier, a lay missionary who lacked formal theological training, began the revival by holding a weekly noontime prayer meeting at his church.

Although only six people attended the first meeting, subsequent prayer meetings held at the church and elsewhere showed strong attendance from the surrounding area.  

“Prayer meetings organized by lay leadership spread like wildfire across the United States. By 1859, more than one million unchurched Americans were won to Christ,” noted CBN in a story about the revival.