This week in Christian history: Creationism, George Whitefield, Pope led Crusade

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, June 16, 2019

George Whitefield ordained – June 20, 1736

Popular eighteenth century evangelist George Whitefield, (1714-1770). | (Photo: Public Domain)

This week marks the anniversary of when George Whitefield, a famous eighteenth century British evangelist, was ordained in the Church of England.

Bishop Martin Benson of Gloucester performed the ordination, with the date sometimes identified as June 10 because England was still using the Julian calendar at the time.

“My heart was melted down and I offered my whole spirit, soul, and body to the service of God's sanctuary,” Whitefield later recalled.

Whitefield would go on to be a prolific traveling preacher, with some estimating that he preached more than 18,000 sermons in his lifetime, speaking in many cities across the British Empire.