Communion with Christ and His People

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was the most famous Baptist minister of his generation. For such a significant figure, he has received surprisingly little scholarly coverage. This present work seeks to make a contribution to Spurgeon studies by examining him through the lens of his spirituality. A wealth of primary material, much of it previously untapped, is used to build up a picture of his spiritual life. Whereas older and more recent interpretations of Spurgeon have a tendency to be one-dimensional, examination of his spirituality reveals him to be a complex figure, one who was molded by a diverse range of factors. Despite this complexity, a unifying theme for Spurgeon's spirituality is traced and fresh light is shed on the foremost popular preacher of the Victorian age.Charles Haddon Spurgeon was the greatest of Victorian preachers. His attitude towards issues in the spiritual life, never before examined at book length, has now been thoroughly analyzed by Peter Morden. In a carefully structured study of great clarity, the author shows that Spurgeon's concerns, though multifaceted and diverse in origin, can be summed up as 'communion with Christ and his people.' David W. Bebbington, Professor of History, University of StirlingPeter Morden is one of the premier historians of the English Baptist tradition. This study proceeds with characteristic precision--and offers some startling conclusions. Communion with Christ and His People is the most important work on Spurgeon to be published in several decades.Crawford Gribben, Professor of Early Modern British History, Queen's University, BelfastPeter Morden has undertaken a thorough and creative exploration of C. H. Spurgeon's spirituality, arguing convincingly from primary sources that this dimension is crucial to an understanding of the great preacher's life and ministry. Much has been written about Spurgeon, and this book challenges many of the perspectives previously offered. In my view this is the most significant study of Spurgeon ever produced.Ian M. Randall, Former Director of Research, Spurgeon's College, and Senior Research Fellow, International Baptist Theological Seminary, PraguePeter J. Morden is Vice Principal of Spurgeon's College, London, a Fellow of the Centre for Baptist History and Heritage, Regent's Park College, Oxford, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.