The Pentecost Bands were known for their enthusiastic, loud, and public displays of faith. In Streator, before their evening services, they would perform a lively street march: “About fifteen minutes before the time for opening the services, the Band, and the class, numbering about twenty to thirty, went out and marched through the streets singing as they went. There was a ring of holy joy and triumph in the singing that attracted the crowd and commanded their respectful attention.” This powerful street preaching, however, soon put them at odds with local authorities. On June 7, 1888, ten Band members were … Continue reading Singing Their Way to Jail: Pentecost Band Workers Cause Controversy in 1880s Illinois Campaign

In the late 1800s, Streator, Illinois, was a booming city. Its foundation was literally dug out of the earth, thanks to over twenty coal mines employing thousands of workers. This industry drew waves of working-class immigrants from Europe, making Streator a bustling, diverse, and prime target for a unique group of preachers: the Pentecost Bands. These evangelists, often traveling in same-sex groups, were part of a holiness movement that emphasized a deeply personal and energetic faith. They specifically focused their efforts on working-class communities, making mining towns like Streator a central focus of their Illinois campaign. A Warm Welcome from … Continue reading Revival on the Rails: How the Pentecost Bands Shook Up Streator, Illinois in the 1880s