A “jaw-dropping” financial situation, and a perceived loss of doctrinal sharpness, have variously been blamed for the abrupt closure of Spurgeon’s College, London.
The Bible college – founded by celebrated preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834–1892) – announced its closure earlier this year, after 169 years of service.
Peter Williams, principal of the Biblical studies centre Tyndale House, Cambridge, remarked on X that the college’s collapse appeared sudden to any who hadn’t been watching closely, but went on to write: “However, [the college’s] last set of published accounts are jaw-dropping. I have never seen their like. I cannot fathom how trustees (collectively – some may have argued against) could allow such deficits or borrowing. I feel sorry for the many people affected by this collapse.”
Williams shared on the social media platform an image of two pie charts depicting the college’s income and expenditure for the financial year ending 31 July 2024; £1,112,055 was the reported income, with a £3,351,256 reported expenditure.
Bill James, Principal of London Seminary, told en: “I was saddened to hear of the closure of Spurgeon’s College. When we reflect on the gospel vision of C.H. Spurgeon, the hundreds of men who were trained there under his leadership, and the churches that were planted, it is tragic to reflect on its decline over the years, and now its sudden closure.”
There is a lack of men coming forward for pastoral ministry, and a need for the Lord to raise up more labourers for the harvest field. “We need the churches to see the importance of rigorous vocational training,” James added. “We need seminaries and colleges which embrace the spiritual and gospel-hearted principles of training for ministry articulated by [Charles Haddon Spurgeon].”
Others have attributed the closure of the college to a perceived theological drift. Among them is Pooyan Mehrshahi, pastor of Providence Baptist Chapel, Cheltenham.
Writing on Substack, he said: “In recent decades, Spurgeon’s College has trained and promoted men who have brought grievous harm to the Church of Christ. One of the most well-known is Steve Chalke, a man who has openly denied the Biblical doctrine of penal substitution – calling the atonement of Christ ‘cosmic child abuse’ – and embraced the so-called ‘affirmation’ of same-sex relationships within the Church, trampling underfoot the plain Word of God. These are not minor errors; they strike at the heart of the gospel.”
In its statement, Spurgeon’s College referred to the struggles many higher education institutions are reportedly facing – particularly within the theology sector – with financial challenges “driven by declining student numbers and an increasingly complex and difficult financial landscape.”
Back on X, Williams concluded his post on a positive note: “Globally, there are more people than ever who want to know about the Bible. The opportunities for theological education institutions have never been greater.”
