A London Map of Spurgeon’s Life
Have you ever heard of the details of C.H. Spurgeon’s life and wondered just where in the world (or, at least, where in London) were some of these places?
Well—whether you are a Spurgeon enthusiast, a cartophile (one who enjoys maps), or both—we are about to give you fill you in. Many of these notable locations no longer exist; searching them on internet map services, etc. bring back little to nothing. But never fear! A Pilgrim’s Coffer is here for you.
While Charles was from Kelvedon, grew up in Stambourne with his grandparents, pastored in Waterbeach, traveled throughout England & Scotland, and vacationed/mended in France, these locations will focus on the primary places Spurgeon spent many of his day-to-day years occupying in Victorian-era London.
c.1895 Map of London featuring notable locations in the life of Charles Haddon Spurgeon
New Park Street Chapel
At the age of 20, Charles Spurgeon came to New Park Street Chapel from his first pastorate at a small Baptist church in Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire. This congregation had continuously met since 1650, beginning in the Tower Bridge area and continuing in the proximity until they built the church at New Park Street in 1833—at the rear of the Borough Market.
While Benjamin Keach and John Gill pastored this congregation, Dr. John Rippon was at the helm when the church was built, moving the congregation from its previous location on Tooley Street. The Chapel building ceased being used when the congregation moved into the Metropolitan Tabernacle in 1861, and no longer exists.
New Park Street, seen just a few blocks South of the Southwark Bridge in the smaller map featured here, is part of Park Street on our maps today.
Park Street, near Borough Market, today—close to where the New Park Street Chapel would have existed.
Exeter Hall
The New Park Street Chapel only had room for about 1,200 people, and by 1855—only a year into his pastorate—Spurgeon began hold services at Exeter Hall, on the North side of The Strand, near Wellington Street and the Waterloo Bridge. The main hall auditorium was able to hold over 4,000 people, and Spurgeon easily filled their seats with churchgoers and visitors.
In addition to being used for large gatherings in the city, the headquarters of the Young Men’s Christian Association was located on the premises; as such, Spurgeon also gave several speeches for the Y.M.C.A here.
In 1907, Exeter Hall was demolished, and the Strand Palace hotel now resides in its place.
This is what Exeter Hall looked like prior to being torn down 15 years after Spurgeon’s death.
Exter Hall with the Y.M.C.A. headquarters sign visible.
Today, the Strand Palace hotel stands where Exeter Hall once stood.
New Kent Road Home
Married on January 8, 1856, Charles and Susannah first lived here at 217 New Kent Road. During this time, New Park Street Chapel was expanding beyond their capacity, and designs/plans for the future Metropolitan Tabernacle were already in the works. Eventually, their first home would only be a short distance East of where the Tabernacle would be built (on High Street, near its intersection with Walworth Road and New Kent Road). The connected homes have since been demolished and no longer exist.
No. 217, where Charles & Susannah lived for ~1 year after getting married.
Current view of where the Spurgeons’ first home once stood.
Passmore & Alabaster
Joseph Passmore was the grandson of Mary Rippon, sister of Rev. John Rippon—who opened and presided over the congregation at New Park Street Chapel several decades before C.H. Spurgeon arrived. Shortly after Spurgeon’s arrival, he and Passmore struck up a friendship and, in January of 1855, Passmore & Alabaster began printing every original sermon and direct work of Charles thereafter. Passmore and business companion, James Alabaster, maintained their partnership for many years, residing in the ‘printer’s alley’ of London at 4 Paternoster Row/Building.
Found just North of St. Paul’s Churchyard, Paternoster Row was home to many of London’s largest printers & publishers, including the great Religious Tract Society. During ‘The Blitz’ of WWII, the area was heavily bombed by German military campaigns; it is said that 6 million books were lost overnight when Paternoster Row was bombed, and that overall, 20+ million books in London were lost during the war.
Since then, a modified Row was rebuilt, including Paternoster Square, where the home of the London Stock Exchange can now be found.
Views of Passmore & Alabaster in their prime
View of the Row after the WWII bombings
View of the area today, including the Square
Surrey Gardens Music Hall
In 1831, Edward Cross brought his exotic animals to the Kennington Road area, on the East side of the road, opposite of The Oval. The Surrey Zoological Gardens competed with the London Zoo, which opened around the same time, but by 1855 the animals at the Gardens had to be auctioned off.
In 1856, the Surrey Music Hall was built on the premises of the now-known Royal Surrey Gardens. After Spurgeon found Exeter Hall to quickly exceed capacity, the New Park Street congregation began using the Music Hall. Tragedy struck at the first service, with 10,000 people inside and thousands outside, when ‘fire!’ was yelled and 7 people were trampled and dozens injured. Services resumed here the following month.
The Music Hall was destroyed by fire in 1861, with most of the property being commercialized with houses and businesses in later years. The current Pasley Park exists on part of the property where the Royal Surrey Gardens once existed.
Zoological Gardens
The Surrey Music Hall around 1858.
Current sign displayed in Pasley Park
Old & New Helensburgh House
In 1857, Charles and Susannah left New Kent Road and moved down to 99 Nightingale Lane, in the Clapham area, West of Brixton. The house they moved into afforded for much more room than they previously had in Newington, while also offering the rural feel and slower pace they desired.
The original home was an older construction and didn’t have many of the ‘modern’ amenities; by 1869, with caring assistance from some of those around them, they were able to tear down and build the ‘new’ Helensburgh House, which still remains.
Around WWII, the South London Hospital for Women and Children purchased the property and it was converted into the Queen Elizabeth Maternity Home, with some modest changes from its original appearance. Ultimately, the house became known as Queen Elizabeth House and today it offers sheltered housing.
“Old” Helensburgh
Plaque posted on the house today
“New” Helensburgh, Spurgeon on balcony
Queen Elizabeth House today
Crystal Palace
On October 7, 1857, Charles Spurgeon preached to almost 24,000 people at the Crystal Palace—without amplification. The Palace was constructed originally in Hyde Park, next to Buckingham Palace (to the West), specifically to hold the Great Exhibition (of the Works of Industry of All Nations) of 1851 ‘world’s fair’.
In 1854, it was broken down, transported, and reassembled at its permanent location in the Sydenham Hill area. Many exhibitions and novel demonstrations would be held at the Palace in following years, which was within a short distance of Spurgeon’s later ‘Westwood’ home, and the modern location of Spurgeon’s College.
The Palace itself burned down in 1936, but the grounds remain in (modified) use.
An inside look at the Palace
The Palace in its original Hyde Park location
Crystal Palace, Sydenham Hill, panorama
Crystal Palace area today
The Sydenham Hill location of Crystal Palace after being moved from Hyde Park in 1854.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle is at Elephant & Castle in Newington, showing up just West of the main junction [“Tabernacle” with a cross on the map], with the College just Southwest of it [“Sch.” on the map].
Metropolitan Tabernacle & the Pastors’ College
With New Park Street Chapel overflowing within a year of Spurgeon’s new pastorate in London, the desire for a new church construction that housed many more congregants came in short order. In 1861, the Metropolitan Tabernacle opened—and it is here that Charles would spend the rest of his life as pastor.
Behind the church, on Temple Street, Charles and company opened the Pastors’ College building in 1874. The seminary—in very modest form—had existed in Spurgeon’s home while he was at New Park Street and was held in the basement of the Tabernacle after it opened. The new facilities became the site of the annual Pastor’s Conferences, along with the headquarters of the Colportage Association.
The Tabernacle burned down in 1898, and was greatly damaged from the WWII bombings in the 1940’s, like many areas in London; in both cases only the portico and basement survived, and are the only remaining elements in its modest, modern state (rebuilt in 1957). The Pastors’ College became “Spurgeon’s College” and moved to South Norwood in the 1920’s, about a mile from the Spurgeons’ former ‘Westwood’ home.
The Tabernacle’s appearance during Spurgeon’s pastorate
The Pastors’ College on Temple St.
Metropolitan Tabernacle as it looks today.
Stockwell Orphanage
One of Spurgeon’s many ministries (and passions) was exemplified in the opening and operation of the Stockwell Orphanage in 1869. Located on Clapham Road in the Stockwell area, the orphanage was created to care for, house, and educate 250 boys without fathers between the ages of 6 and 10; in 1879, the orphanage expanded to take in girls, as well, housing over 500 children at a time.
Ultimately, the Orphanage raised and ministered to thousands of children. Like several of the locations, during the German bombings of WWII, the Orphanage was damaged and never re-opened at this location. Today, Stockwell Park School is found where the former campus used to be.
Early photograph of the Stockwell Orphanage campus
View of former location of Stockwell Orphanage today
Westwood on Beulah Hill
In 1880, once again looking to leave the hustle and bustle of London city life, the Spurgeons left the once-rural Nightingale Lane to head for the greener pastures of Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood.
Strolling by the Crystal Palace in Sydenham Hill, Charles noticed the Westwood home for sale on their drive—and the rest is history. The property would be the last home for the Spurgeons, and their most enjoyed.
Now containing many residences, with the Beulah Spa and Harris Academy existing in the general area, the Westwood estate was torn down and no longer exists today.
View of the house from the rear of the property
Norwood Cemetery
The final resting place for both Charles and Susannah, the Norwood Cemetery was just up the road from the '‘Westwood’ house (heading toward London) and is Northwest of Crystal Palace in Sydenham Hill.
Formerly known as Norwood Cemetery and South Metropolitan Cemetery, the gravesite is now located in what is called West Norwood Cemetery.
Like many of the locations discussed, the tomb—containing both husband & wife in caskets beside one another—was damaged during the bombing of WWII but has since been restored.
Among many well-known Londoners of their day also buried in this cemetery, Charles and Susannah’s son, Thomas—brother to Charles Oliver—also rests here.
Entry to West Norwood Cemetery
Resting place of the Spurgeons