Susannah Thompson Spurgeon

Susannah Thompson was born in 1832. Her early years were spent in London, where often she accompanied her parents to the New Park Street Chapel.

She was converted upon hearing a sermon taken from Romans 10:8: “The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart” (KJV). Recalling this experience she wrote: “The Lord said to me, through His servant, ‘Give Me thy heart,’ and, constrained by His love, that night witnessed my solemn resolution of entire surrender to Himself.”

But Susannah soon became apathetic. She seemed unwilling to open up to others concerning her state–until she met Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

At 19, Spurgeon came to New Park Street as a pastoral candidate. The congregation was greatly impressed with him, but Susannah was not.

After Charles accepted the church’s invitation, she often met him at the home of friends. His preaching and personal witness caused her to realize how indifferent she had become in her spiritual life.

Her spiritual life deepened, and their friendship grew more intimate. They were married on January 8, 1856, and their twin sons, Charles Jr. and Thomas, were born on September 20, 1857.

Spurgeon’s preaching and the Prayer Revival, for which he became known, gained great notoriety. Throughout their marriage, Susannah and Charles struggled with poor health; nevertheless, their ministry grew.

Confined to her home for years, Susannah prayed for an opportunity to serve Christ. In 1875, when Spurgeon completed his first volume of Lectures to My Students, she wanted to place a copy in the hands of every minister in England.

Thus, the ministry of the Book Fund was begun. Soon Susannah was securing donations with which to supply the libraries of poor preachers.

Her work expanded to include other ministries, such as the Pastors’ Aid Fund and the Westwood Clothing Society. But Charles’ physical condition continued to deteriorate until his death in 1892.

In Susannah’s remaining years, she published C.H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography, compiled from his diary, letters and records. On October 22, 1903, Susannah Spurgeon died. Only eternity will tell of the blessing and the spread of revival that grew out of her sacrificial and noble work.