Thomas Spurgeon (20 September 1856 – 17 October 1917) was a British

Reformed Baptist Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith ...

preacher of the

Metropolitan Tabernacle The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large independent Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650. ...

, one of the fraternal twin sons of the famous

Charles Spurgeon Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was an English Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". He wa ...

(1834–92).

Life

Thomas and his twin brother were born a month before the tragedy at the Royal Surrey Gardens Music Hall of 19 October 1856 while their father was preaching. Their mother, Susannah became an invalid at the age of 33 while the boys were still in their teens. After serving some time as an engraver, Thomas Spurgeon, like his brother Charles, decided to give his life to preaching the gospel. However, his health prevented him from remaining in England. While he was still young, he sailed to Australia, and spent one year in

evangelistic In Christianity, evangelism (or witnessing) is the act of preaching the gospel with the intention of sharing the message and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians who specialize in evangelism are often known as evangelists, whether they are ...

labors there. After his return to England, it was decided that he must return to a better climate for his health. During the early 1880s he preached in many places in Australia, as well as in

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, and finally he decided to accept the pastorate of a Baptist church in Auckland, the

Auckland Baptist Tabernacle The Auckland Baptist Tabernacle is a Baptist church located near the corner of Queen Street and Karangahape Road, at the edge of Auckland central business district in New Zealand. It is affiliated with the Baptist Churches of New Zealand. Histo ...

, where his influence was already becoming widely felt. Thomas married Eliza McLeod Rutherford in 1888 in Auckland. A son, Thomas Harold Spurgeon, was born in 1891. Thomas returned to England after the death of his father and succeeded him in his pulpit ministry after a brief period under

Arthur Tappan Pierson Arthur Tappan Pierson (March 6, 1837 – June 3, 1911) was an American Presbyterian pastor, Christian leader, missionary and writer who preached over 13,000 sermons, wrote over fifty books, and gave Bible lectures as part of a transatlantic p ...

. During Thomas' fifteen-year pastorate, the Tabernacle burned in 1898 and was rebuilt along similar lines. His brother Charles was pastor of the Greenwich Baptist Church.

Notes

References

* * * 1856 births 1917 deaths 19th-century English Baptist ministers 20th-century English Baptist ministers English Calvinist and Reformed Christians Clergy from London {{UK-Christian-clergy-stub