One of the unique primary sources that has come to the Spurgeon Library at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the Heritage Collection acquisition from Spurgeon’s College UK is the set of Pastors’ College Discussion Minutes Books. These books contain records of the theological debates that Pastors’ College students had in 1867-1868, 1876, and 1881-1888. Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) founded the Pastors’ College after his arrival to London. By the end of his life, his school had become the most influential college among Baptists throughout England and beyond. According to some scholars, as many as 80% of all Baptist churches throughout England had some Spurgeonic influence. But the question must be asked, “Why did Spurgeon’s influence fade so quickly in England? Did Spurgeon’s students not hold to his convictions and philosophy of ministry?”
To help answer this question, this paper will examine these minute books to glean insights into the theological convictions of the students of the Pastors’ College, the nature of their pastoral training, and the influence that Spurgeon had over his students. Spurgeon, as the college president and the benefactor of his students, wielded tremendous influence over his students. Yet, as these discussion minutes show, Spurgeon’s Calvinistic doctrines, ecclesiology, and philosophy of ministry were not necessarily held by all his students. Even before the Downgrade Controversy, the students of the Pastors’ College, and sometimes even the tutors, were having all kinds of theological debates and taking positions that were different from Spurgeon’s. In many ways, these discussions foreshadowed the disagreements that would take within the Pastors’ College as Spurgeon took his stand against the Baptist Union in the Downgrade Controversy.
This paper, then, will present the theological and ecclesiological diversity among the students at the Pastors’ College as is evident in the Discussion Minute Books. It will first provide an overview of the books and offer insights into the training at the Pastors’ College. Second, it will argue that far from all the students being in line with Spurgeon’s views, there was considerable diversity among the students in their biblical and theological convictions. Finally, it will describe the impact of this diversity within the college during the Downgrade Controversy.