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September 1, 1957: At a massive rally in Times Square, Billy Graham concludes his 16-week evangelistic crusade in New York City, attended by nearly two million people (video).

September 2, 1784: John Wesley consecrates Thomas Coke (right) as the first “bishop” of the Methodist church in America. An indefatigable itinerant minister, Mr. Coke crossed the Atlantic 18 times — all at his own expense.

Always deeply interested in missionary work at home and abroad, he traveled widely to establish Methodism in the West Indies.

September 14, 1814: Episcopal layman Francis Scott Key, co-founder of the American Sunday School Union, is inspired to write “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the bombardment of Fort McHenry in Maryland (left below).

The poem’s final verse includes this lyric: “Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.”

September 23, 1857: Layman-turned-evangelist Jeremiah C. Lanphier holds a weekly lunchtime prayer meeting for businessmen in New York City. By the program’s third week, 40 participants requested daily meetings.

Soon capacity-crowd prayer gatherings were being held throughout the city. Other cities begin similar programs, and a revival — sometimes called “The Third Great Awakening” — catches fire across America. (A brief 1894 New York Times story about Mr. Lanphier is here—PDF.)

September 25, 1789: Congress amends the U.S. Constitution to prohibit establishment of a state church and to prohibit governmental interference with the free exercise of religion.

September 30, 1770: Having preached his last sermon the evening before, English revivalist George Whitefield dies.

In his lifetime, Whitefield preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers.

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Adapted with permission from ChristianHistory.net.