“ We need to live very near to God, if we would approve ourselves in our vocation.”
C H Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was converted at the age of 16 and just six years later in 1856 founded the College that bears his name. An outstanding preacher and communicator, he wanted to train others to share in the task of bringing the 'Good News' to a needy world. During Spurgeon's lifetime nearly 900 pastors and evangelists trained at the College. In addition, through his students, almost 200 new churches were planted in Britain alone. Others went on to make a significant impact throughout the English-speaking world.
Spurgeon was known as the 'Prince of Preachers' and for over 30 years was pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle which, with its 5,000 members, became the largest church in the world at the time.
The College began at the Elephant and Castle and moved to its current location in 1923. Situated in the world's most famous city, and close to the European mainland, the College is in a unique position to prepare Christians for mission and ministry in the contemporary world. We are grateful for our past but even more interested in your future.
Our founder maintained a world perspective and the maxim 'from the heart of London into all the world' remains as true today as it was then. However, we now welcome students from every continent and from many different denominations, bringing a richness and diversity to Spurgeon's in the twenty-first Century.
Today's College is set on the second highest hill in South London; a strategic location only eight miles from the centre of the Capital City and just a mile north of Croydon. London is very much a mission field for the gospel and is a challenging place to train for Christian mission and ministry. Spurgeon's is committed to exploring the challenge of the city and is able to provide a wide variety of church placements and mission opportunities.The College's distinctive buildings have been added to over the years with a library, chapel and student accommodation. With 60,000 volumes in the main library and 120 periodical titles in the reference library, the College is home to one of the best theological resource centres in the South of England. As part of the Library Resources, the College Computer Network provides students with broadband access to the Internet. In addition, the College has its own bookshop in partnership with the Tonbridge Christian Book Centre.
"We need to live very near to God, if we would approve ourselves in our vocation."C H Spurgeon.
C H Spurgeon was a pastor with a missionary vision and a strategy for theological education. He was fired by God with a world vision. Today the College remains passionately committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus.
Spurgeon's College seeks to offer a blend of evangelical faith with contemporary relevance; a blend of spiritual fervour with high academic standards. A member of the Evangelical Alliance, the College has always stood firmly in the evangelical tradition. The College Governors, the Principal and teaching staff are fully committed to the central authority of the Scriptures in all matters of faith and practice. The study of God's Word lies at the heart of the College's life.
At the same time, however, we seek to blend our evangelical faith with contemporary relevance. The College's commitment to studying the gospel of Jesus Christ as witnessed to by the Scriptures is vital in helping you face the challenges of the contemporary world.
The College combines concern for spiritual growth with high academic standards. As an institution affiliated with the University of Wales, which validates all our academic courses, we are committed to a rigorous examination of the Christian Faith. Students are helped to face the challenges of modern thought and scholarship and thus develop their own critical and creative faculties, albeit within an evangelical framework.
Ministerial students are offered a wide range of practical opportunities to learn and to serve through regular Sunday preaching engagements, by working alongside experienced ministers, and in church placements.
Click here to see what it is like to study in a church placement.
All our residential students are able to connect to the College's computer network from their rooms allowing them broadband access to the Internet. In addition the network is available from the computer suite, the library or via the wireless connection in the study areas. This opens up entry to the whole range of modern communication technologies. The web based library catalogue can be accessed from any computer connected to the College network, within the library or from your computer at home. Our friendly and approachable staff are on hand to help you with information services and administrative problems. We also provide sessions on developing learning skills to help you adjust to the learning environment.