A couple of months back I took a funeral at West Norwood Cemetery. The Chapel is right on top of a hill and in front of it is the grave of Charles Spurgeon. If you are a Baptist it is likely that he is a hero of yours. What I really like about him is what he was like as a person. Despite his phenomenal gifts and skills he still had time for the ordinary people. When you read about him he seems to have such warmth about him and a fantastic sense of humour.
He lived here in Clapham for a time and his wife Susannah said about their time here that it was amongst their happiest. Clapham then was considered in the countryside and it was an escape from the demands of his hectic ministry at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Elephant and Castle.
His orphanages where very near to our church. You can see pictures of what they used to look like on Lambeth council's website
Every time I have been up at the chapel I have been the only one around (until it is time for the funeral to start) and a number of times I have thought, as I looked at his grave, how would he of handled this?
Here are some photos I took.
you keep eating at that fried food store and you'll need a grave as big as Spurgeon's. Seriously though mate, I hear him quoted more and more these days - I almost think he's coming into his own again.
Posted by: steve mcalpine | Saturday, April 05, 2008 at 02:03 AM
Thanks for the comment Steve. You are right about the fried food. I have just come back from the Banner of Truth Conference with Dad(it would be right up your street!?!?)
and Spugurgeon is always quoted more than Calvin. His sense of humour and quips put him on a level with Churchill.
Posted by: Jonathan | Saturday, April 05, 2008 at 10:50 AM
obviously I meant Spurgeon - I think
Posted by: Jonathan | Saturday, April 05, 2008 at 10:52 AM