GEORGE WHITEFIELD
(1714-1770)
George Whitefield, an eloquent and fiery preacher in both Great Britain and America, played a dynamic role in founding and influencing the Great Awakening, a religious movement which swept the English colonies during the eighteenth century. It was characterized by a rebirth in the interest of the church and preachers. Whitefield, a native of England, studied at Pembroke college, Oxford where he first developed a keen interest in clergy affairs. By his early 20's he had begun addressing large crowds, who were spellbound by his fervour and dramatic action. It is evident that the preacher's impact on religious life in Great Britain and the Colonies was significant, for he had great influence in "awakening" the religious conscience of many, especially Calvinist Methodists.
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