Faith and reform

Charles Spurgeon

1834 to 1892 · England

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 to 1892) was an English Baptist pastor so gifted that he was called the Prince of Preachers. For nearly forty years he preached to thousands every week at London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle, and his printed sermons sold by the millions around the world. He founded a pastors’ college and orphanages, spoke openly of his battles with depression, and preached one message above all: Christ crucified.

Life and context

Spurgeon was born in Kelvedon, Essex, in 1834. He was converted at fifteen, sheltering from a snowstorm in a small chapel, when a lay preacher pointed him to the text ‘Look unto me, and be ye saved.’ He began pastoring in London at nineteen, and the crowds grew so large that the Metropolitan Tabernacle was built for him, opening in 1861 with seating for around five thousand. He suffered from gout and recurring depression, and spoke about it with unusual candor to encourage fellow sufferers. Late in life he stood firm in the Downgrade Controversy over the authority and truth of Scripture. He died in 1892.

What he taught and wrote

Spurgeon preached the free grace of God to sinners and the all-sufficiency of Christ. His printed sermons form one of the largest bodies of work by any Christian author. He also wrote The Treasury of David (a rich commentary on the Psalms), the daily devotional Morning and Evening, Lectures to My Students, and All of Grace, a plain little book urging readers to trust Christ.

What his witness points us to

Spurgeon resolved never to preach a sermon without pointing to the cross. He points to a Christ who receives the worst of sinners freely, and his honesty about depression shows that this grace holds even in the dark.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Charles Spurgeon?

Charles Spurgeon (1834 to 1892) was an English Baptist pastor known as the Prince of Preachers. He preached for decades at London's Metropolitan Tabernacle and his printed sermons sold in the millions worldwide.

Why is Spurgeon called the Prince of Preachers?

Because of his extraordinary gift and reach. He preached to thousands weekly, his sermons were printed and read around the world, and he is regarded as one of the greatest preachers in English history.

What did Charles Spurgeon write?

Spurgeon left a vast body of published sermons, plus The Treasury of David (on the Psalms), the devotional Morning and Evening, Lectures to My Students, and All of Grace.