Charles Spurgeon
A Victorian-era preacher whose thunderous sermons and printed words captivated millions, shaping evangelical Christianity for generations.
1834–1892 (age 58)·British preacher, author, pastor and evangelist·Birthday: June 19
Biography
Charles Spurgeon was a force of nature from the pulpit. Converted as a teenager during a snowstorm, he bypassed formal seminary training and was preaching to London crowds in his early twenties. His church, the Metropolitan Tabernacle, swelled to hold thousands, drawn by his plainspoken, emotionally charged oratory and his unwavering Calvinist convictions. Spurgeon wielded a printing press as powerfully as his voice, publishing sermons that circled the globe and founding a pastors' college and charitable organizations. His later years were marked by public theological battles and poor health, but his legacy is that of a man who made complex doctrine feel immediate and urgent to the common person.
#1 When Charles Was Born
The biggest hits of 1834
Charles's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1834Born
1839Started school
1847Became a teenager
1850Could drive
1852Could vote
1855Turned 21
1864Turned 30
President: Abraham Lincoln
1874Turned 40
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1884Turned 50
President: Chester A. Arthur
1892Died at 58
President: Benjamin Harrison
Key Achievements
- Preached regularly to congregations exceeding 10,000 people at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London.
- Published over 3,500 sermons in his lifetime, creating one of the largest single-author collections in Christian history.
- Founded the Pastor's College in 1856 to train ministers according to his theological principles.
- Authored the devotional classic 'Morning and Evening,' which remains widely read over a century after his death.
Did You Know?
He once preached to a crowd of over 23,000 at the Crystal Palace without any electronic amplification.
Spurgeon suffered from gout and depression, often retreating to Menton, France, for his health.
He collected and donated thousands of books to form the core of the library at what is now Spurgeon's College.
His wife, Susannah, organized a book fund that mailed his sermons to needy pastors worldwide.
“A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered.”
