It was in 1804 that the itinerant Evangelist John Farquharson first set foot on Skye. As we have seen in previous issues it was his preaching that ignited the first sparks of what was to become a revival fire. 1804 was also a spiritually significant year for another west coast island some distance south of Skye. Of Arran during that year it is recorded " In that year, and the year following, many were awakened at the north end of the island, especially about the farms of Sannox and their neighbourhood. And although this awakening, as to its power and progress, was not long continuance, yet a considerable number of the subjects of it testified by their lives and conversation that they had undergone a gracious change".

In the months that followed "a kind of reformation was visable throughout many parts of the island" . This was particularly the case in the parish of Kilmorie, which was at the time under the ministry and preaching of a Mr McBride. Mabride’s sermons were said to be "frequently close and searching; but he dwelt more on the consolations of the gospel than on the terors of the law; and the excitement seemed to be, in genral, greater under the sermons in which the riches of divine grace and the consolations of the gospel were exibited, , than under such as were more awful, and apparently better fitted to awaken."

A little group who had been converted under McBride’s preaching "began to be more ernest in their supplications at the throne of grace for a time of revival - of refreshing from the presence of the Lord". Some of this little praying group set aside some days for private fasting and prayer. During these times of private devotion some of the group "enjoyed an uncommon nearness to God and great freedom at the throne of grace". This continued for about a year prior to what was to become known as the "Revival of Religion in Arran".

At the beginning of march 1812 (the same time as revival was sweeping through the north of Skye), "the Lord began to work in an unusual way among them". The manner of His working "caused some surprise" as "at this time the outcrying commenced, which afterwards so common for a considerable time. It began first in some private meetings, but afterwards extended to the public assembly under Mr. McBride’s ministry." Writing of these events Rev. Angus McMillan who arrived as minister in Kilmorie six months after the main revival, states - " What made the thing more remarkable was , that its ( the outcrying) first appearance was among the people of God - the most tender, humble, and spiritually minded among them were the first affected in this manner." This phenomenon spread next to those who were "seriously disposed" and soon extended to the "gay and thoughtless, the moral and the openly wicked - Persons of almost every description and age, from nine years or under, and that of sixty or upwards, were affected; but the numbers of old people was small compared with that of the young. The crying at first while confined to the people of God, was attended with very little bodily agitation; but after others were affected, it was generally affected with these - such as panting, trembling, and other convulsive appearances."

McMillan records his reaction to the above after he had "inquired particularly" as to its beginnings and was "satisfied in his own mind, that the spirit of the Lord was at work in preparing for it- that His mighty power was revealed in the commencement of it - and that He had gracious and merciful design in ordering the circumstances of it."

As the revival gathered momentum there was an "uncommon thirst after the means of grace". It was thought nothing to travel ten to fifteen miles to hear a sermon; and after the sermon was over for the people to meet together in homes and barns where they spent several hours in "religious exercies." Some spent whole nights in this way. During these occasions "some migtht be seen filled with divine love, others with fear; some rejoicing in hope of the Glory of God, and other trembling lest they should come short of it; some crying out in accents of praise, and others indicating by their cries, their dread of everlasting wrath."

Many of those who had been Christians prior to the revival "enjoyed .... much of the refreshing influences of the Spirit, and were often filled, in extraordinary measure, with peace and joy in believing." These "ecstasies of spiritual joy, among the people of God, were generally accompanied with great humility and tenderness of spirit".

The results of this revival were in McMillans estimation "very considerable". His conservative estimate was "two or three hundred persons, old and young taken together.

The Arran revival began to decline about the spring of 1813. This mirrors the experience of Skye about the same time. Although there is no known human link between these Island revivals, few can doubt that the same Spirit wind guided by a divine hand was responsible for both.