The Yatton Exorcism: George Lukins

On June 13, 1778, George Lukins, a tailor from Yatton in Somerset, England, underwent a public exorcism that briefly revived belief in demonic possession in an age increasingly dominated by scientific rationalism. Lukins had exhibited bizarre symptoms for eighteen years, and his eventual exorcism by seven Methodist ministers generated both believers who saw proof of spiritual reality and skeptics who dismissed the entire affair as fraud or delusion.

The Affliction Begins

George Lukins was approximately twenty-six years old when his troubles began on Christmas Day, 1769. While participating in a community celebration, he suddenly fell into a fit. When he recovered, he claimed that a powerful blow had struck him, though no one present had touched him.

From that day forward, Lukins experienced periodic episodes that defied medical explanation. He would fall into violent fits during which his voice changed, he sang strange songs, and he exhibited physical strength far beyond his normal capacity. He claimed to be possessed by seven demons.

During his episodes, Lukins would speak in voices other than his own, curse violently, and claim to have knowledge of distant events that proved accurate. He could not work regularly and became dependent on charity. Doctors examined him repeatedly but could provide neither diagnosis nor cure.

Eighteen Years of Possession

For nearly two decades, Lukins lived with his condition. The episodes came unpredictably, sometimes several times a week, sometimes with intervals of relative calm. During normal periods, he was described as a quiet, devout man who was distressed by his afflictions.

Local authorities tried various approaches. Physicians bled him, drugged him, and applied other medical treatments of the era without effect. Ministers prayed over him, but none attempted formal exorcism. Some suspected fraud, but Lukins’s condition persisted for too long and too consistently to be easily dismissed as playacting.

The Exorcism

By 1778, Lukins had become convinced that only formal exorcism by seven ministers would free him from the seven demons he believed possessed him. He appealed to the Church of England, which declined to become involved. Eventually, Methodist ministers agreed to attempt the ritual.

On June 13, 1778, seven Methodist clergymen gathered at Temple Church in Bristol to exorcise George Lukins. A large crowd assembled to witness the event. The ministers began with hymns and prayers, then commanded the demons to depart in Jesus’ name.

According to witnesses, Lukins went through violent convulsions as each demon was addressed in turn. He roared, cursed, and struggled against those restraining him. After approximately two hours, he suddenly went calm. He declared that the demons had departed and gave thanks for his deliverance.

The Aftermath

Lukins claimed to be completely cured. He returned to Yatton and resumed his trade as a tailor, reportedly living without further episodes for the remaining years of his life. Supporters of the exorcism pointed to his recovery as proof of its success.

The case generated immediate controversy. Sarah More, a prominent religious writer, investigated and became a believer. She wrote about the case, helping to publicize it among religious audiences. Others were more skeptical.

A Bristol surgeon named Smith published a pamphlet arguing that Lukins was either a fraud or mentally ill. He suggested that the entire episode was a Methodist publicity stunt designed to boost the movement’s credibility. Similar accusations appeared in various publications.

The Debate

The Lukins case became a flashpoint for broader debates about supernatural belief in the Enlightenment era. Rationalists saw it as an embarrassing throwback to superstitious times. Believers saw it as evidence that spiritual realities persisted regardless of scientific fashion.

The involvement of Methodist ministers was significant. Methodism, then a relatively new movement, emphasized direct spiritual experience and emotional religion in ways that mainstream Anglicanism often discouraged. Critics suggested that Methodists were more inclined to see demonic possession because it fit their theological framework.

Historical Context

By 1778, public exorcisms had become rare in England. The Church of England had not officially performed one in over a century. The rationalism of the Enlightenment had pushed demonic explanations to the margins of respectable opinion. The Lukins case represented a temporary revival of older beliefs.

The case also reflected ongoing tensions between established religion, dissenting movements like Methodism, and emerging medical science. Each group claimed authority to diagnose and treat conditions like Lukins’s, and the exorcism became a test case for whose explanatory framework would prevail.

Legacy

George Lukins lived until 1805, apparently never again suffering from his former afflictions. Whether this proves that the exorcism worked, that his condition naturally resolved, or that he chose to abandon his performance remains impossible to determine.

The case is remembered as one of the last significant possession cases in English history and as an example of how supernatural beliefs could persist even in an age that prided itself on rationality. It demonstrated that the contest between religious and scientific explanations for mental and spiritual disturbances was far from settled, a contest that continues in different forms today.