Baptist Chapel Waterbeach - Spurgeon (1851)

This was Spurgeon's first appointment as pastor at 17. There were 40 to begin with, but within 2 years there were 400.

"I once knew a village, perhaps in some respects one of the worst in England – where many an illicit still was yielding it’s obnoxious liquor… and where in connection with that evil, all manner of riot and iniquity was rife.

They went into that village a lad, who had no great scholarship, but who was earnest sineeking the souls of man. He began to preach there and it pleased God to turn the whole place upside down. In a short time the little church chapel was crammed, the biggest vagabonds in the village were weeping floods of tears and those who had been the curse of the parish became its blessing. Where there had been robberies and villainies of every kind, all around the neighbourhood, there were none, because the men who used to do the mischief were themselves in the house of God, rejoicing to hear of Jesus crucified.

I am not telling an exaggerated story, nor a thing I do not know, for it was my delight to labour for the Lord in that village. It was a pleasant thing to walk through that place, when drunkenness had almost ceased, when debauchery in the case of many was dead, when men and women went forth to labour with joyful hearts, singing the praises of the ever living God; and when, at sunset, the humble cottager called his children together, read them some portion of the Book of Truth and then together they bent their knees in prayer to God. I can say with joy and happiness that almost from one end of the village to the other, at the hour of eventide, one might have heard the voice of song coming from nearly every roof-tree….

I do testify, to the praise of God‘s grace, that it pleases the Lord to work wonders in our midst. He showed the power of Jesu's name, and made me a witness of that gospel which can win souls, draw reluctant hearts and mould afresh the life and conduct of simple men and women."

"The Early Years," by Iain Murray editor. Banner of Truth 1962

Spurgeon pursued his studies to such an extent that his brother thought that there would be few young men his equal. His teacher strongly believed that, had he not been a non-conformist, he would have got a degree at Cambridge University. His preaching became so sought after that he soon was preaching almost every evening; it was a kind of training school for the future. In October 1851, he preached in the Baptist church, Waterbeach and they liked him so much that the asked him to be their pastor, which he accepted. He became known as "the Boy Preacher." He had 40 in the church, but soon people came from around the area to hear him and in no time the church had grown to 400. There were so many that many stood outside listening to him. During his time there he developed an extraordinary gift of understanding and influencing people. A number of people felt convicted of sin and received the Saviour under his ministry there. Waterbeach was quite a debauched town and it became virtually transformed as the biggest vagabonds and villains in the town gave their lives to Jesus.

When preparing his talks at Wisbeach, Spurgeon, unlike other young preachers, was able to apply the depth of knowledge he had gleaned from reading all those books as a child. During this time he learned how to deal with people and his character developed. He was audacious and fearless. He did not just wait to preach in church, he went into the highways and byways to speak to people and to encourage them to come to the church. All he wanted when he preached was for someone to be saved. His secret was his absolute dependence on God, his sincerity and his passion.

It was suggested to the young preacher that he enter a Baptist College to get ministerial training and he decided to do so. He went for an interview, but curiously he was led to wait in one room and the minister who was going to interview him was led to a different room and they both left without getting together. Spurgeon felt that God was in this, and then one day he heard an audible voice saying, "Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not!" He therefore decided against going to the College.