Do you wonder what he most influential in church history in the past 100 years were, and
what trends did they set and how they expressed their influence? Can those past churches’ successes help us today?
Read, The Ten Most Influential Churches in the Past Century, published by Destiny Image Publishers by Elmer Towns. Order this book from Amazon.com
Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle
The Tabernacle dates its history to the 1650s, when the English Parliament prohibited worship by Christian denominations (Descenders) who were not members of the Church of England. In 1688 when Baptists were allowed freedom of worship, this group built their first chapel in Tower Bridge.
In 1720, the famous John Gill became pastor and served for 51 years till 1771. By 1850, the congregation had dwindled to a small number. In 1854, a young 19-year-old Charles Haddon Spurgeon was called as pastor, even though he had no experience as a pastor. Spurgeon became the most popular preacher in his day. He began preaching in the chapel on New Park Street but the crowds became so large they moved their meetings to Surrey Gardens Music Hall. Then the church moved into its large sanctuary near the James River in south London. Spurgeon served the church for 38 years and they had total membership of 5,311; he died in 1892.
In 1720, the famous John Gill became pastor and served for 51 years till 1771. By 1850, the congregation had dwindled to a small number. In 1854, a young 19-year-old Charles Haddon Spurgeon was called as pastor, even though he had no experience as a pastor. Spurgeon became the most popular preacher in his day. He began preaching in the chapel on New Park Street but the crowds became so large they moved their meetings to Surrey Gardens Music Hall. Then the church moved into its large sanctuary near the James River in south London. Spurgeon served the church for 38 years and they had total membership of 5,311; he died in 1892.
The church building burnt down in 1898 leaving the front portico and basement intact. It was once again destroyed in 1941 by German bombing of London during WWII. Again the portico and basement survived. A new tabernacle but much smaller in design was then built.
I led a group of Liberty University students into the basement, directly under the location of Spurgeon’s original pulpit. At that spot a group of “watchers” gathered every time Charles Spurgeon was preaching, to kneel and intercede for power directly under the pulpit as Spurgeon preached above them. I had read about the dining room table they gathered around, sitting on dining room chairs, with seating pads. The watchers would place the pads on the floor then kneel to pray the entire time Spurgeon was preaching. Many believed their prayers were the reason Spurgeon’s Tabernacle became the most influential church in the world.
When the students and I visited the basement, the dining room table was pushed to the side as a museum piece, with ropes to keep out visitors. There was a sign that said, “Do not touch or sit on the chairs.”
My message to the students, “This church was great because of effective intercession, but now this table is just a museum piece to remind present day worshippers about the past. Perhaps if there was a group earnestly praying for this church, as they did 100 years ago, they might be as powerful and large as it was back then.
WANT TO READ MORE?
What churches were the most influential in church history in the past 100 years? What trends did they set? How did they express their influence? Can past churches’ successes help you today? What can the ministry of past successful churches teach us today? Read, The Ten Most Influential Churches in the Past Century, published by Destiny Image Publishers by Elmer Towns. Order this book from Amazon.com
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