REVIVAL IN THE SOUTH HAMS, DEVON.
It is always cheering and encouraging to hear of a real moving among souls when the Holy Spirit of God awakes the dead in trespasses and sins, and breathes life. Ten years ago the large parish of Stokenham, near Kingsbridge, was the scene of a gracious work of conversion, when we took our Gospel tent into the hamlets of Ford and Kellaton. As one result, at the latter place a mission-hall was soon afterwards built, where a simple, earnest Gospel has been preached ever since.
Some of the converts also found their way among the Congregationalists at Ford, and Methodists at Hall Sands, there witnessing for Christ. The Lord of the harvest also has sent an earnest, soul-winning vicar into the parish, who, with his curates preaches a faithful Gospel. Those who were mere boys ten years ago have now grown into young men. The evil spirit possessed them, and they attended the usual services only to create disturbance and amuse themselves in rough "horseplay." They would also insult the quieter members of the congregation with coarse and offensive observations, in going and coming.
They were made the subject of fervent prayer, and during these ten years faith was tried. Now behold the answer. A few weeks ago an earnest evangelist, Mr Wooldridge, held a mission in the chapel at Hall Sands, and many were converted, among them some of the ringleaders in this gang of young men. Then followed the services at Bee Sands and Kellaton during the past ten days, for which prayer was asked in this paper a fortnight ago. And God has wondrously blessed. Each day there have been gracious conversions principally among these young men—who sat in row after row, not as formerly, "just inside the door," but now up against the platform, their serious, eager attention brightening into joy as the glad message of forgiveness and deliverance was received. The hearts of God's people are bounding upward with thanksgiving, that they who in times past, persecuted the Church are now obedient to the Word. The change in countenance, manner, and life is marked, and remarked.
From, "The Christian," March 17th, 1892.
In 1891 the population was 159, living in 37 houses. A few years later dredging started offshore and this led to the destruction of the village. A storm in 1917 destroyed what was left of the village, leaving just one house habitable. The marker shows the old village, but I do not know where the chapel was. There was a chapel there since 1506. The village grew on a rocky ledge under the cliffs.