The Call of Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-92) to the Baptist Church in New Park Street, Southwark, London, occurred when Spurgeon was only nineteen years of age. He would resign his duties at the small congregation in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire, and accept a call in April 1854 to the much larger London congregation at New Park Street. The congregation would experience immediate growth upon his arrival in the early months of 1854, setting the stage for a remarkable epoch  both in the history of what would soon become the Metropolitan Tabernacle as well as British Baptist history in general.

William Walters resigned as pastor at Park Street in the spring of 1853, but continued through June of that year before removing to Halifax, Yorkshire. The church was supplied by various ministers, eventually including an invitation to Spurgeon to preach on 18 December. The church immediately gravitated to his preaching, and invited him to preach again the first Sunday in January 1854 (these invitations are not recorded in the church book). This further consolidated the church’s opinion that Spurgeon should supply for an extended period (anywhere from three to six months) in anticipation of his becoming the church’s stated minister. At the Annual Church Meeting held on 18 January 1854, it was announced that “A respectful Letter having been sent to the Deacons – signed by several members of the Church submitting to them the propriety of holding an adjourned Church meeting on Wednesday next the 25th, to take into consideration the propriety of inviting the Revd C. H. Spurgeon to supply the Pulpit for three or more months. It was Resolved that this Church Meeting do adjourn at its rising to Wednesday next at seven o’clock in the Evening.”

At the meeting on the 25th, it was “Resolved, That the Ministry of the Revd Charles Spurgeon having been very generally appreciated, he be invited to supply the Pulpit for six months; and that the Deacons be requested to communicate this Resolution to him and to make the necessary arrangements with him.”

At the next church meeting, 15 February 1854, Spurgeon responded to the church’s call for him to supply for six months in a letter that was addressed to James Low, a deacon in the church, and read by Low to the church (a copy of the letter was inserted into the church minutes):

No 60 Park St Cambridge

Jan. 27. 1854.

James Low Esqre

My dear Sir,

         I cannot help feeling intense gratification at the unanimity of the Church at New Park Street in relation to their invitation to me. Had I been uncomfortable in my present situation I should have felt unmixed pleasure at the prospect Providence seems to open up before me: but having a devoted and loving people I feel I know not how.

         One thing I know viz., that I must soon be severed from them by necessity for they do not raise sufficient to maintain me in comfort. Had they done so I should have turned a deaf ear to any request to leave them at least for the present. But now my heavenly Father drives me forth from this little Garden of Eden, & whilst I see that I must go out, I leave it with reluctance & tremble to tread the unknown land before me.

         When I first ventured to preach at Waterbeach, I only accepted an invitation for 3 months on the condition that if in that time I should see good reason for leaving; or they on their part should wish for it – I should be at liberty to cease supplying or they should have the same power to request me to do so before the expiration of the time.

         Now with regard to a 6 months’ invitation from you I have no objection to the length of time but rather approve of the prudence of the Church in wishing to have one so young as myself on an extended period of probation.

         But I write after well weighing the matter, when I say positively that I cannot, I dare not accept an unqualified invitation for so long a time. My objection is not to the length of the time of probation but it ill becomes a youth to promise to preach to a London Congregation so long, until he knows them & they know him. I would engage to supply for three months of that time & then should the Congregation fail, or the Church disagree, I would reserve to myself liberty without breach of engagement to retire – & you could on your part have the right to dismiss me without seeming to treat me ill. Should I see no reason for so doing, & the church still retain their wish for me I can remain the other 3 months either with or without the formality of a further invitation: but even during that time (the second 3) I should not like to regard myself as a Fixture in case of ill success, but would only be a Supply, – liable to a fortnight’s dismissal or resignation.

         Perhaps this is not business-like. I do not know but this is the course I should prefer, if it would be agreeable to the Church. Enthusiasm & popularity are often the crackling of thorns & soon expire; I do not wish to be a hindrance if I cannot be a help.

         With regard to coming at once I think I must not. My own Deacons just hint that I ought to finish the quarter here, though by ought, they mean simply “pray do so if you can.” This would be too long a delay. I wish to help them until they can get supplies which is only to be done with great difficulty & as I have given you 4 Sabbaths I hope you will allow me to give them 4 in return. I would give them the first & second Sabbaths in February & two more in a month or six weeks time. I owe them much for their kindness although they insist that the Debt lies on their side. Some of them hope & almost pray that you may be tired in 3 months so that I may be again sent back to them.

         Thus, my dear Sir, I have honestly poured out my heart to you. You are too kind. You will excuse me if I err for I wish to do right to you, to my people & to all, as being not mine own but bought with a price.

         I respect the honesty & boldness of the small minority & only wonder that the number was not greater. I pray God that if he does not see fit that I should remain with you, the majority may be quite as much the other way at the end of 6 months, so that I may never divide you into parties.

         Pecuniary matters I am well satisfied with. And now one thing is due to every Minister & I pray you to remind the church of it viz. That in private as well as public they must all earnestly wrestle in prayer to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ that I may be sustained in the great work.

         I am with the best wishes for your health, & the greatest respect

                                 Yours truly

                                             C. H. Spurgeon.

At the church meeting on 12 April 1854, James Low “reported that a Letter signed by upwards of fifty of the Men Members had been received by the Deacons requesting that the Church might be convened on Wednesday next to take into serious and prayerful consideration the propriety of inviting the Revd Charles H. Spurgeon forthwith to become the Pastor. And this meeting was therefore adjourned to this day week accordingly.”

One week later, on 19 April, the church met again to continue deliberations concerning the call of Spurgeon to be pastor. The first minute reads as follows:

It was Resolved unanimously, That while as members of this Church we desire to record, with devout & fervent gratitude to God, our estimation of the Revd C. H. Spurgeon’s services during the period of his labours amongst us – we regard the extraordinary increase in the attendance upon the means of grace both on Lord’s days and week evenings, combined with the manifest fact that his Ministry has secured the general approbation of the Members, as an encouraging token that our heavenly Father has directed his way towards us in answer to the many prayers we have offered up for a suitable Pastor.

         And as there are several inquirers desirous of joining our fellowship we consider it prudent to secure as early as possible his permanent settlement with us.

         We therefore beg to tender our Brother the Revd C. H. Spurgeon a most cordial and affectionate invitation forthwith to become Pastor of this Church, and we pray that the result of his services may be owned of God with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a revival of religion in our midst – that it may be fruitful in the conversion of Sinners & the edification of those that believe.

By the date of the next church meeting, on 5 May 1854, Spurgeon had already responded to the church’s call in a formal letter dated 28 April 1854:

75 Dover Road, Borough,

Ap. 28. 1854.

To the Baptist Church of

Christ worshippping in

New Park Street Chapel Southwark,

Dearly Beloved in Christ Jesus,

         I have received your unanimous invitation, as contained in a Resolution passed by you on the 19th inst, desiring me to accept the Pastorate among you.

         No lengthened reply is required, there is but one answer to so loving & cordial an invitation. I accept it.

         I have not been perplexed as to what my reply should be – for many things constrain me thus to answer.

         I sought not to come to you, for I was the Minister of an obscure but affectionate people; I never solicited advancement. The first note of invitation from your Deacons came quite unlooked for, & I trembled at the idea of preaching in London. I could not understand how it had come about & even now I am filled with astonishment at the wondrous Providence. I would wish to give myself into the hands of our Covenant God whose wisdom directs all things, he shall choose for me, & so far as I can judge this is his choice.

         I feel it to be a high honour to be the Pastor of a people who can mention glorious names as my predecessors and I entreat of you to remember me in prayer that I may realize the solemn responsibility of my trust. Remember my youth & inexperience, pray that these may not hinder my usefulness. I trust also that the remembrance of these will lead you to forgive mistakes I may make or unguarded words I may utter.

         Blessed be the name of the most High, if he has called me to this office, he will support me in it – otherwise how should a Child, a Youth have the presumption thus to attempt a work which filled the heart & hands of Jesus.

         Your kindness to me has been very great & my heart is knit unto you. I fear not your steadfastness, I fear my own. The Gospel I believe, enables me to venture great things & by faith I venture this.

         I ask your co-operation in every good work; in visiting the sick, in bringing in enquirers, & in mutual edification.

         Oh that I may be no injury to you but a lasting benefit. I have no more to say, saving this, that if I have expressed myself in these few words in a manner unbecoming my youth & inexperience, you will not impute it to arrogance but forgive my mistake. –

         And now commending you to our Covenant God, the Triune Jehovah,

                                 I am

                                             Yours to serve in the Gospel,

                                                         C. H. Spurgeon.

The next minute notes that “A Letter from the Church at Waterbeach near Cambridge was read dismissing our ministering Brother the Revd Chas H. Spurgeon to our fellowship; whereupon it is agreed that he be received as a member in full communion with this Church.”

Thus ends the Church Book, 1808-54, at a most momentous turning point in the history of the church between the ministries of John Gill and John Rippon and the unforgettable ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. His pastoral duties officially began two months before his 20th birthday and more than fulfilled the church’s desire in their letter of invitation, that, as their minister, Spurgeon's services would “be owned of God with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a revival of religion in our midst – that it may be fruitful in the conversion of Sinners & the edification of those that believe.”

Text: The above account is taken from the Church Minute Book, Carter Lane and New Park Street, 1808-1854 (unpaginated), Metropolitan Tabernacle, London.