Spurgeon's College

{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Spurgeon's College
 | logo                   = Spurgeons College logo.png
 | image_name             = Former Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill - geograph.org.uk - 1777086.jpg
 | image_size             = 
 | established            = 1856
 | former_name            = The Pastors' College
 | religious_affiliation  = [[Baptist Union of Great Britain]]
 | city                   = [[London]]
 | country                = [[United Kingdom]]
 | chancellor             = [[Rick Warren]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Rick Warren appointed honorary chancellor of UK Christian college |url=https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/rick-warren-appointed-honorary-chancellor-of-uk-christian-college |website=premierchristian.news |access-date=8 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230611004151/https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/rick-warren-appointed-honorary-chancellor-of-uk-christian-college |archive-date=Jun 11, 2023 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref>
 | principal              = Philip McCormack <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spurgeons.ac.uk/philip-mccormack/|title=Philip McCormack|date=9 November 2018 |publisher=Spurgeon's College|accessdate=19 October 2021}}</ref>
 | coor                   = {{coord|51.4064|-0.0862|type:edu_region:GB-CRY|display=inline,title}}
 | website                = {{URL|spurgeons.ac.uk}}
}}
'''Spurgeon's College''' is an [[evangelical]] [[Baptists|Baptist]] [[theological college]] in [[South Norwood]], [[London]], [[England]], [[United Kingdom]]. It is affiliated with the [[Baptist Union of Great Britain]].

==History==
The school was founded in 1856 by Pastor [[Charles Spurgeon]] as "Pastors' College" in [[London]].<ref>George Thomas Kurian, Mark A. Lamport, ''Encyclopedia of Christian Education, Volume 3'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2015, p. 1205.</ref><ref>Michael Edward Williams, Walter B. Shurden, ''Turning Points in Baptist History'', Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 132.</ref> His vision was to provide a practical theological education, [[Christian mission|mission]]-centered.<ref>David Emmanuel Singh, Bernard C. Farr, ''Christianity and Education: Shaping Christian Thinking in Context'', Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2011, p. 174.</ref> By 1892, the school had trained 863 students.<ref>John H. Y. Briggs, ''A Dictionary of European Baptist Life and Thought'', Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2009, p. 480.</ref> In 1923, it moved to its present building and was renamed in honor of its founder.<ref>Michael Kenneth Nicholls, 
[https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/issues/issue-29/spurgeons-college.html Spurgeon's College], christianitytoday.com, USA, Vol. 29, 1991.</ref>

{{Baptist}}

==Programs==
It delivers training for the Baptist ministry both in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and elsewhere. It also offers a suite of other courses including [[E-learning|online learning]], a part-time (Monday) Degree course, several Master's courses.<ref>Spurgeon's College, [https://www.spurgeons.ac.uk/courses-at-spurgeons-college/ Theology courses at Spurgeon’s College], spurgeons.ac.uk, UK, retrieved May 5, 2023.</ref> In 2008 the college was also accredited by the [[British Accreditation Council]]. In 2011 the college underwent three external inspections. A week-long inspection by the ecumenical churches (Quality in Formation) declared the college 'fit for purpose' and the University of Wales judged that the preparation for research degrees (MPhil, PhD) meets the current standards.<ref>{{cite web|title=Quality In Formation Inspection Report 2011 - Spurgeon's College|url=http://www.spurgeons.ac.uk/_uploads/InspectionReports/QIF%20Inspection%20Report%202011.pdf|accessdate=25 May 2016}}</ref> Finally, the 2011 quinquennial review by the university resulted in a report recommending the programmes should continue subject to two conditions being met within months and other recommendations should be carefully considered.<ref>{{cite web|title=Report on the Quinquennial Review of ... at Spurgeon's College, London on Thursday 16th June 2011|url=http://www.spurgeons.ac.uk/_uploads/InspectionReports/Quinquennial%20Report%202011.pdf|accessdate=25 May 2016}}</ref>

Due to the University of Wales stopping the accreditation of outside institutes, their academic accreditation was withdrawn in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=University of Wales announces new academic strategy|url=http://www.wales.ac.uk/en/NewsandEvents/News/General/UniversityofWalesannouncesnewacademicstrategy.aspx|date=6 October 2011|accessdate=10 June 2016}}</ref> In September 2012, the college announced that its degrees had received provisional [[Higher education accreditation#United Kingdom|accreditation]] by the [[University of Manchester]], a member of the [[Russell Group]] of British universities subject to adjustments and negotiation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.refdag.nl/kerkplein/kerknieuws/universiteit_manchester_accrediteert_spurgeon_s_college_londen_1_672407|title=Universiteit Manchester accrediteert Spurgeon's College Londen|publisher=[[Reformatorisch Dagblad]]|date=6 September 2012|language=Dutch}}</ref> In 2020 the college announced a consultation period for a redevelopment programme as part of their vision to become a university.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-23|title=Virtual Consultation|url=https://www.spurgeons.ac.uk/virtual-consultation/|access-date=May 5, 2023|website=Spurgeon's College|language=en-US}}</ref> In May 2022 the college was granted full degree awarding powers by the Office for Students.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-05-21|title=Spurgeon's College 'incredibly proud' to secure full degree awarding powers|url=https://www.christiantoday.com/article/spurgeons.college.incredibly.proud.to.secure.full.degree.awarding.powers/138643.htm|access-date=2022-06-01|website= Christian Today|language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Partners ==
The school is a partner of the [[Baptist Union of Great Britain]] and the [[Evangelical Alliance]].<ref>Spurgeon's College, [https://www.spurgeons.ac.uk/mission-and-values/ Mission and Values], spurgeons.ac.uk, UK, retrieved 5 December 2020.</ref>

==Notable alumni==
{{see also|Category:Alumni of Spurgeon's College}}
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2022}}
* [[J. Sidlow Baxter]], [[Australia]]n born pastor and theologian who advocated a fundamentalist Christian theological perspective
* Dr [[George Beasley-Murray|George R. Beasley-Murray]]
*Rev [[John Charles Carlile]]
* Rev [[Steve Chalke]], founder of [[Oasis Trust]], founder of Faithworks, chair of [[Stop the Traffik]]
* [[Nick Mercer]], senior priest of the Anglican Diocese of London
* [[Arthur Gostick Shorrock]], pioneer Baptist missionary in China for 40 years
* Dr [[Nigel G. Wright]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.spurgeons.ac.uk Spurgeon's College homepage]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Spurgeon's College| ]]
[[Category:Baptist seminaries and theological colleges in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Bible colleges, seminaries and theological colleges in England]]
[[Category:Education in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1856]]
[[Category:Evangelicalism in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Charities based in England]]
[[Category:1856 establishments in England]]