New Park Street Chapel
Encyclopedia
The New Park Street Chapel was a Reformed Baptist
church in Southwark
in London
built in 1833. The fellowship began worshipping together in 1650. Its first pastor was William Rider, and many notable others have filled the position since, including Benjamin Keach
, Dr. John Gill
, Dr. John Rippon
, and C. H. Spurgeon
. The Metropolitan Tabernacle
at Elephant and Castle
still worships and holds to its historical principles under its present pastor, Dr. Peter Masters.
organisations from meeting together, this congregation braved persecution until 1688, when the Baptists were once again allowed to worship in freedom. At this point, the group built their first chapel, in the Tower Bridge
area.
In 1720, Dr. John Gill
became pastor and served for 51 years. In 1771, Dr. John Rippon
became pastor and served for 63 years. During these times, the church experienced great growth and became one of the largest congregations in the country. The congregation moved to New Park Street from the Baptist meeting-house in Carter Lane, Tooley Street in 1833. The New Park Street chapel could seat 1200 people.
In 1854, the most famous of all the pastors at New park Street started serving at the youthful age of 20. His name was Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and he quickly became the most popular British preacher of his day. The church soon became so full that services had to be held in hired halls such as the Surrey Music Hall.
During Spurgeon's ministry, it was decided that the church should be expanded to accommodate the overflowing crowds who sat in window sills and lined up outside. In 1856 the expansion removed the wall behind the pulpit and allowed for about 200 more seats. As this was still not enough room the elders decided to move permanently to a larger premises. The location chosen was the Elephant & Castle, a very prominent location near the River Thames
in South London
, partly because it was thought to be the site of the burning of the Southwark Martyr
s. The church was finished in 1861 and dedicated on March 18.
Reformed Baptist
Reformed Baptists are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology. They can trace their history through the early modern Particular Baptists of England. The first Reformed Baptist church was formed in the 1630s...
church in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
built in 1833. The fellowship began worshipping together in 1650. Its first pastor was William Rider, and many notable others have filled the position since, including Benjamin Keach
Benjamin Keach
Benjamin Keach was a Particular Baptist preacher in London whose name was given to Keach's Catechism.-Biography:...
, Dr. John Gill
John Gill (theologian)
John Gill was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian who held to a firm Calvinistic soteriology. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he attended Kettering Grammar School where he mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11...
, Dr. John Rippon
John Rippon
John Rippon was an English Baptist minister and in 1787 published an important hymnal, A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns, commonly known as Rippon's Selection, which was very successful, and was reprinted 27 times in over 200,000...
, and C. H. Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
. The Metropolitan Tabernacle
Metropolitan Tabernacle
The Metropolitan Tabernacle is a large Reformed Baptist church in the Elephant and Castle in London. It was the largest non-conformist church edifice of its day in 1861. The Tabernacle Fellowship have been worshipping together since 1650, soon after the sailing of the Pilgrim Fathers...
at Elephant and Castle
Elephant and Castle
The Elephant and Castle is a major road intersection in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is also used as a name for the surrounding area....
still worships and holds to its historical principles under its present pastor, Dr. Peter Masters.
History
In 1650, when the English Parliament banned independent ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organisations from meeting together, this congregation braved persecution until 1688, when the Baptists were once again allowed to worship in freedom. At this point, the group built their first chapel, in the Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England, over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name...
area.
In 1720, Dr. John Gill
John Gill (theologian)
John Gill was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian who held to a firm Calvinistic soteriology. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he attended Kettering Grammar School where he mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11...
became pastor and served for 51 years. In 1771, Dr. John Rippon
John Rippon
John Rippon was an English Baptist minister and in 1787 published an important hymnal, A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns, commonly known as Rippon's Selection, which was very successful, and was reprinted 27 times in over 200,000...
became pastor and served for 63 years. During these times, the church experienced great growth and became one of the largest congregations in the country. The congregation moved to New Park Street from the Baptist meeting-house in Carter Lane, Tooley Street in 1833. The New Park Street chapel could seat 1200 people.
In 1854, the most famous of all the pastors at New park Street started serving at the youthful age of 20. His name was Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and he quickly became the most popular British preacher of his day. The church soon became so full that services had to be held in hired halls such as the Surrey Music Hall.
During Spurgeon's ministry, it was decided that the church should be expanded to accommodate the overflowing crowds who sat in window sills and lined up outside. In 1856 the expansion removed the wall behind the pulpit and allowed for about 200 more seats. As this was still not enough room the elders decided to move permanently to a larger premises. The location chosen was the Elephant & Castle, a very prominent location near the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, partly because it was thought to be the site of the burning of the Southwark Martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s. The church was finished in 1861 and dedicated on March 18.
Pastors both past & present
- William Rider, c1653-c1665 (12 yrs)
- Benjamin KeachBenjamin KeachBenjamin Keach was a Particular Baptist preacher in London whose name was given to Keach's Catechism.-Biography:...
, 1668-1704 (36 yrs) - Benjamin Stinton, 1704-1718 (14 yrs)
- Dr. John GillJohn Gill (theologian)John Gill was an English Baptist pastor, biblical scholar, and theologian who held to a firm Calvinistic soteriology. Born in Kettering, Northamptonshire, he attended Kettering Grammar School where he mastered the Latin classics and learned Greek by age 11...
, 1720-1771 (51 yrs) - Dr. John RipponJohn RipponJohn Rippon was an English Baptist minister and in 1787 published an important hymnal, A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, Intended to Be an Appendix to Dr. Watts’ Psalms and Hymns, commonly known as Rippon's Selection, which was very successful, and was reprinted 27 times in over 200,000...
, 1773-1836 (63 years) - Joseph Angus, 1837-1839 (2 yrs)
- James Smith, 1841-1850 (8 ½ yrs)
- William Walters, 1851-1853 (2 yrs)
- Charles SpurgeonCharles SpurgeonCharles Haddon Spurgeon was a large British Particular Baptist preacher who remains highly influential among Christians of different denominations, among whom he is still known as the "Prince of Preachers"...
, 1854-1892 (38 yrs) - Arthur Tappan PiersonArthur Tappan PiersonArthur Tappan Pierson was an American Presbyterian pastor, early fundamentalist leader, and writer who preached over 13,000 sermons, wrote over fifty books, and gave Bible lectures as part of a transatlantic preaching ministry that made him famous in Scotland and England...
1891-1893 - Thomas SpurgeonThomas SpurgeonThomas Spurgeon was a British Reformed Baptist preacher of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, one of two non-identical twin sons of the famous Charles Haddon Spurgeon ....
, 1893-1908 (15 yrs) - Archibald G. BrownArchibald G. BrownArchibald Geikie Brown was a Baptist minister and a disciple of the noted Victorian era preacher Charles Spurgeon...
, 1908-1911 (3 yrs) - Dr. Amzi Clarence DixonAmzi DixonAmzi Clarence Dixon was a well-known pastor, Bible expositor and evangelist, popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. With R.A. Torrey he helped edit the influential journal The Fundamentals which helped give fundamentalist Christianity its name...
, 1911-1919 (8 years) - Harry Tydeman Chilvers, 1919-1935 (15 ½ yrs)
- Dr. W Graham Scroggie, 1938-1943 (5 yrs)
- W G Channon, 1944-1949 (5 yrs)
- Gerald B Griffiths, 1951-1954 (3yrs)
- Eric W Hayden, 1956-1962 (6 yrs)
- Dennis Pascoe 1963-1969 (6 yrs)
- Dr. Peter Masters, 1970–present