Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the world well-known Baptist preacher, had a sister who was additionally a preferred preacher in her day. That is the story…
Spurgeon Household
The Spurgeon household was a strongly non-conformist household from Essex, England. The Rev John Spurgeon (1810-1902) labored as a chief clerk within the Coal and Delivery Workplace and was additionally pastor of the Tollesbury Unbiased Congregation in Essex. He and his spouse Eliza Spurgeon had 17 youngsters. The eldest little one was Charles Haddon Spurgeon born in Essex in 1832. He was one in all solely two sons to succeed in maturity, however six sisters survived to maturity. Eldest daughter was Eliza Rebecca Spurgeon, born 19 January 1836. About 1840 Charles Haddon Spurgeon and household had been residing in Colchester.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Whereas visiting varied church buildings in Colchester, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was transformed after listening to a sermon on the Artillery Road Primitive Methodist church (now known as Artillery Road Evangelical church) in Colchester in January 1850. That night he ministered on the Eld Lane Baptist Chapel in Colchester (now known as Colchester ). Baptist Church) the place he was impressed by the Reverend Robert Langford. He then advisable the church to his household they usually change into a part of the neighborhood. In 1851, Charles Haddon Spurgeon turned pastor of Waterbeach Baptist Church close to Cambridge.
Mrs. Jackson
In the meantime, members of the Spurgeon household remained at Eld Lane Baptist Church in Colchester. In 1856, when Rev Robert Langford, the pastor, wanted assist, a co-pastor named Rev William Jackson was appointed. Throughout his time on the church, Reverend William Jackson befriended the Spurgeon household and courted Miss Eliza Rebecca Spurgeon. In 1859 Jackson resigned as pastor of Salem Baptist Chapel in Bilston, close to Wolverhampton (now known as Bilston Baptist church). In December 1859 the Reverend William Jackson married Eliza Rebecca Spurgeon, her brother Charles Haddon Spurgeon officiating, they usually settled in Bilston. In June 1867 the Reverend William Jackson left Bilston to change into pastor of Cambray Baptist Chapel in Cheltenham.
Mrs. Jackson – Preacher
In mid-1872 William and Eliza Rebecca Jackson moved to Willingham Baptist Church close to St Ives in Cambridgeshire about 12 miles north-west of Cambridge. Shortly after their arrival, Mrs. Jackson started preaching in Willingham and attracted giant crowds. Newspapers started to report this in early November 1872. The London Echo reported that “Mr. Spurgeon's sister is preaching with nice success at Willingham, Cambridgeshire, the place her husband is a Baptist minister.”
At the moment there have been only a few feminine preachers, then referred to as “girl preachers”. Newspaper accounts from the time present that they attracted giant congregations for the novelty of listening to a lady preach. Within the 1870s, most feminine ministers had been Primitive Methodists who continued the follow permitted by John Wesley, however feminine ministers within the Baptist motion had been uncommon, although not unknown, and weren’t banned.
Willingham
After a profitable efficiency in Willingham, Mrs. Jackson was invited to talk at different Baptist church buildings within the Cambridge and Ely space. Based on one report, “Mrs. Jackson has a smooth voice that modulates with ease and style, with occasional bursts of quiet eloquence.” In 1874, some newspaper accounts known as her “the queen of preachers.”
Her brother Charles Haddon Spurgeon knew she was preaching, however his non-public ideas on the thought of his sister being a preacher usually are not clear. No matter his opinion, it didn’t stop him from visiting his sister and visiting church buildings the place his brother-in-law, the Reverend William Jackson, was the pastor.
Waltham Cross
In October 1876 William Jackson moved to change into pastor of Paradise Row Baptist Chapel in Waltham Abbey (now known as Waltham Abbey Baptist Church) in Essex. Mrs. Jackson once more preached on this church.
Mrs Jackson acquired many requests to evangelise and was invited to talk in Baptist church buildings all through England and South Wales. Generally she would keep all day and attend morning, afternoon and night providers on the identical church. Crowds got here to listen to her and the chapels had been full, attracted by the chance to see a woman preacher, but in addition one who occurred to be the sister of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Along with expository preaching from the Bible, she additionally gave lectures on varied subjects at mid-week conferences and teams. A lot of the information stories are very favorable.
Shifting to London
The Rev William Jackson remained pastor at Waltham Abbey till he died there in 1892 aged 62 and was buried at Waltham Cross.
Heritage
After being widowed, Mrs Jackson went to reside with one in all her sons in Edmonton and later moved to Tottenham, North London. She attended Northumberland Park Primitive Methodist Church (now Calvary Church of Godin Christ, Tottenham) however continued to evangelise in Baptist church buildings.
She died in Tottenham in 1914 aged 78. Throughout her lifetime she was related to the British Girls's Temperance Affiliation (now known as the White Ribbon Affiliation), the Union College Union and women' golf equipment. One obituary stated she was “an ready speaker and preacher, well-known within the denomination.” One other newspaper wrote: “She was the eldest sister of CH Spurgeon and had all his uncommon presents of speech and humor and his qualities of coronary heart.”
Whereas Charles Haddon Spurgeon continues to be well-known at the moment, his sister's story appears little identified.
