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| Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher of the nineteenth century, found peace with God in a small Colchester chapel on January 6th, 1850. Just over 155 years later another Spurgeon stood in that same chapel and gave her testimony to the Lord's saving grace.
The occasion was the unveiling of a blue plaque placed by the Colchester Civic Society on the outside wall of the Spurgeon Memorial Evangelical Church in Artillery Street, Colchester, on January 8th this year.
Present at the ceremony was the Mayor of Colchester, Coun. John Bouckley, with his Mayoress, the local MP, Mr Bob Russell, the Principal of Spurgeon's College, the Rev. Dr. Nigel Wright, and representatives of other organisations, including Mr Henry Spivey of the Civic Society who opened the proceedings, welcoming the congregation of around eighty people and describing the circumstances leading to the erection of the plaque. He then introduced Dr Wright who spoke on behalf of the College Spurgeon had founded.
It was a special joy to have there two of Spurgeon's direct descendants, his great grandson with his wife, and their daughter, Susannah, all three believers. Susannah was introduced by Dr Wright and then gave her testimony. She spoke about her upbringing in a Christian family and how she had come to realise her need of a personal faith in the Saviour. Trusting in the Lord she knew that she would one day be in heaven. If this sounded arrogant, she said, it was only what the Bible declared. "He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life ..." (1 John 5:12,13). Dr Wright then prayed and the congregation moved outside for the unveiling.
With the congregation back in the chapel, Mr. Keith Munford, representing the local church, introduced the PTS Chairman. The Rev. Gordon Murray was to outline Spurgeon's life and the impact he made on the lives of so many people. He began by saying how moved he had been by Susannah's testimony and the thought that 155 years ago Spurgeon would never have anticipated one of his descendants testifying in the same building.
Moving into his subject, Mr Murray asked how many funeral services they expected to have when they died. Spurgeon had five, plus the interment of his body. All the circumstances connected with his death showed in what great respect he was held, a remarkable fact for a preacher even in those days. Mr Murray went on to describe episodes and important factors in Spurgeon's life, relating some of them to our spiritual needs today. He believed that Spurgeon, who was proved right about the Downgrade, would have been equally opposed to certain developments in evangelical circles today. We had a need in the churches now for the work of the Spirit that had characterised Spurgeon's ministry, and it was good to see the work that was still continuing so faithfully at the Metropolitan Tabernacle today.
Mr Murray closed by reading Spurgeon's own account of his conversion. It was this that had led to all the rest and to Spurgeon's confidence in what lay ahead as he came to the end of his days. We too needed to be ready in the way that Spurgeon was, trusting in the Lord Jesus alone for salvation.
Originally published in March - April 2005 issue of Protestant Truth. |
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