Billy Sunday held his revival campaign in Springfield, Illinois, from Feb 26 – Apr 11, 1909. This campaign followed his successful 1908 revivals—including the one in Bloomington—and was a major early-city campaign that further cemented his national reputation.
Key details of the Springfield 1909 revival:
- Duration: 6 weeks
- Location: A large wooden tabernacle was specially built on 2nd Street between Monroe and Capitol for the meetings.
- Estimated Attendance: Tens of thousands attended over the course of the campaign.
- Conversions: 4,729 people were said to have made commitments to Christ during the meetings.
- Social Impact: His preaching led to the founding of Washington Street Mission, which continues to serve the community today.
- Historical Context: Sunday’s campaign came just a few months after the 1908 Springfield Race Riot, making his calls for moral reform and community healing especially resonant.
This Springfield campaign was a milestone in Sunday’s ministry, helping launch a decade of high-profile urban revivals across the United States.
Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) 