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William Taylor

William Taylor (1821-1902) was a trailblazing American Methodist Episcopal missionary, author, bishop and global evangelist. His early career is synonymous with California. Often compared to St. Paul, Taylor traveled far and wide, pioneering innovative approaches to missions for nearly half a century in places such as Australia, the Congo and South Africa. The self-sufficiency of churches in the field was his top priority. He emphasized a “locally financed” church model that relied on local economies instead of overseas support; a methodology still used today.

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Every Reason to Believe’s Faithful Persuaders is a series of books and articles that showcases powerful, historic defenses of the Christian faith. These timeless books feature thought-provoking rhetoric, deep biblical insight, and convicting prose. We hope they inspire you and demonstrate that we’ve always had every reason to believe in the timeless truths of biblical Christianity.

Seven Years
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Seven Years’ Street Preaching in San Francisco, California

1856 | 286 Pages | Genre: Missions | Author: William Taylor (1821-1902)

“There was a constant stream of emigration flowing in through our ‘golden gate’ from every part of the world.”

In 1848, William Taylor, one of Methodism’s foremost pioneers in 19th century missions work, was called to California. He settled in the burgeoning metropolis of San Francisco and quickly became a prolific open-air preacher, church planter and reformer in the “land of gold and crime.”

In this magnificent account, Taylor’s unvarnished, vibrant, and immediate first-hand narrative chronicles the throes of a global city in its formative years. Feigning eloquence for directness, Taylor’s tour through “the streets and lanes,” and “highways and hedges” brims with local flavor while his sketches and vignettes detail the old west just as it was; filled with a wild, newfound freedom yet deeply in need of the gospel’s reforming influence.

Amid the fires, duels, steamship disasters and gold rush, his stalwart influence shows us at once the power of a preacher keenly in tune with the needs of his people and the rousing power inherent in God’s word.

Seven Years’ stands mightily as one of Americana’s most galvanizing religious literary timepieces, and now, in this new edition, it is available for a new generation of readers.

Original Endorsements

“The observation and experience recorded abounds with the most pleasing interest, and the scenes are described with much graphic power and felicity.” Baltimore Sun
“Among the first of our noble army of occupation in California was the Rev. William Taylor. In labors he has been more abundant, and as fear¬less as laborious. His book, as a book of mere incident and adventure, possesses uncommon interest; but as a record of missionary toil and success its interest is immensely increased. The sketches of personal character and death-bed scenes are thrilling.” Ladies’ Repository
“This is a graphic description of the labors of a missionary among the most complex, and perhaps most wicked, and at the same time excited and active population in the world. It is a very rich book, and deserves a large sale.” Zion’s Herald
“As a religious history, it occupies a new department in Californian lit¬erature; and its incidents and triumphant death scenes are of the most interesting character.” The American Spectator
“It is a very entertaining volume, full of adventure, grave and gay, in the streets of a new city, and among a peculiar people.” New-York Observer
“This book is a real contribution to the religious history of that country. For raciness of style it is one of the most readable books that has fallen into our hands.” Pittsburgh Christian Advocate
“We like the spirit and daring of the author of this book. But few like him live among men. With an undoubted piety, and courage like a lion, he preached Christ at a time, in San Francisco, when Satan reigned about as triumphant as he ever has on any other spot of the cursed earth. The book will be read, and it will do good wherever it is read.” Buffalo Christian Advocate
“The state of society which Mr. Taylor describes is almost anomalous, and his pictures are boldly and clearly drawn.” New York Evening Post
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