Whitefield at Tottenham Court Road Chapel

We notice also an event indicative of the prominence Whitefield had among the Church Evangelicals. Lord Dartmouth, a highly influential layman, frequently invited Evangelical clergyman to preach at the chapel in his country home near Cheltenham. He also endeavoured to have them, while in the area, preach in the parish church. At times the Rector allowed the use of his church but more often he refused it. Then, in November I757, 

... Madan came to Cheltenham, and was soon after joined by Venn and by Maddock ... Contrary to the expectations of Lord Dartmouth. both Madan and Venn were several times admitted to the parish pulpit. Then came Whitefield, and an immense crowd collected, expecting that he also would preach in the church. Attended by Lord and Lady Dart mouth... the renowned preacher proceeded to the church door. They found it closed against them. 

    Whitefield, never at loss for pulpits, mounted a neighbouring tomb stone, and preached. The Rev Henry Venn... wrote: 

    "Under Mr. Whitefield's sermon, many among the immense crowd that filled every part of the burial ground, were overcome with fainting. Some sobbed deeply; others wept silently; and a solemn concern appeared on the countenance of almost the whole assembly. 

    When he came to impress the injunction in the text [Isa. 51. 1] his words seemed to cut like a sword, and several of the congregation burst out into the most piercing bitter cries. Mr. Whitefield, at this juncture, made a pause and then burst into a flood of tears. 

    During this short interval Mr. Madan and myself stood up, and requested the people to restrain themselves as much as possible, from making any noise. Twice afterwards we had to repeat the same counsel. 

    O with what eloquence, energy and melting tenderness, did Mr. Whitefield beseech sinners to be reconciled to God. When the sermon was ended the people seemed chained to the ground. Mr. Madan, Mr. Talbot, Mr. Downing and myself found ample employment in endeavouring to comfort those broken down under a sense of guilt. We separated in different directions among the crowd, and each was quickly surrounded by an attentive audience, still eager to hear all the words of this life.
    The next day a like scene was witnessed when dear Mr. Whitefield preached to a prodigious congregation from Isaiah lv. 6. In the evening Mr. Talbot preached at Lord Dartmouth's, to as many as the rooms would hold. Hundreds crowded around his Lordship's residence, anxiously expecting Mr. Whitefield to preach. Exhausted as he was from his exertions in the morning, when he heard that there were multitudes without, he stood upon a table near the front of the house, and proclaimed the efficacy of the Saviour's blood to cleanse the vilest of the vile. 

    Intelligence of the extraordinary power attending the word soon spread, and the next day we had Mr. Charles Wesley and many friends from Bristol, Gloucester, Tewkesbury, Rodborough, and the villages in the neighbourhood; but all loud weeping and piercing cries had subsided, and the work of conversion went on in a more silent manner. For several days we have had public preaching, which has been well attended, and much solid good has been done." 

(During this trip Mr. Whitefield preached at Shakerly Common, and a man leaning on a gate a mile away, distinctively heard many of his sentences, was convinced of sin and soon converted.)

*

Dallimore, A. A. (1980). 27 Tottenham Court Road Chapel. In George Whitefield. The life and times of the great evangelist of the 18th century revival. (Vol. 2, pp. 392–393). essay, Banner of Truth.