Camp Meetings

At the beginning of the nineteenth century in the vast wilderness of the American Frontier, there were few places of worship. In 1801 Presbyterians and Methodists joined together at Cane Ridge in Kentucky to hold a ‘camp meeting’ whereby believers spread across the mid west trekked days before setting up camp to hear a series of circuit preachers expound the Gospel. So popular was this gathering that similar camp meetings were held throughout the century and when word spread that a religious meeting was to be held, both believers and non believers would attend. Such meetings proved popular with non believers as they were glad of a break in routine and upon hearing the Gospel many were consequently converted.