A Sunday School is still operated by Metropolitan Tabernacle in the neighborhood.
The famous Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon held religious services at the Music Hall in weekends because the New Park Street Chapel could not contain his audiences. The first service was held on the evening of Sunday 19 October 1856, with an audience of 10,000 inside and as many outside unable to enter. It was, however, marred by tragedy when someone shouted fire and a panic to escape ensued. Seven were killed in the crush and many injured. Nevertheless, Spurgeon returned a few weeks later to hold morning services in November 1856. The services continued to be very well attended, with audiences exceeding 10,000. The proprietors decided to hold Sunday evening music concerts in the hall; Spurgeon objected to the entertainment being held on the Sabbath, and the last Sunday morning service was held on 11 December 1859.
The Morning Chronicle
Mon, Oct 20, 1856 ·Page 5
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT AT THE ROYAL SURREY GARDENS.
FIVE LIVES LOST.
The announcement that it was the intention of the Rev. Mr. Spurgeon to preach in the great Music Hall of the Royal Surrey Gardens yesterday evening, occasioned great excitement in that particular portion of the religious world who have imagined for themselves the appearance of a younger Whitfield in the juvenile enthusiastic preacher from Waterbeach, and the blast of the trumpet that shall rouse to a new awakening, in his impulsive and singularly exciting discourses. St. John’s Chapel, Park-street, which holds a thousand auditors, had been found insufficient; Exeter Hall had repulsed from its over crowded vestibules a large surplus beyond the 3,000 which it admitted to listen to Mr. Spurgeon; but at last the opportunity was afforded of satisfying the many thousand souls hungering for the word; the Music-hall at the Surrey-gardens, capable of containing 10,000 people, was secured, and the intense longing of the multitude might be satisfied.
The excitement, as we have said, was great in consequence.
Such was the scene outside, such the enthusiasm within—when on a sudden, from the hysterical scream and subsequent fainting of a female in the gallery to the left of Mr. Spurgeon and at the further end of the building—a commotion ensued above; the people at the doors cried, “Fire”—(there really had been a strong smell of fire a few minutes previously)—others called out, “the building, the building is falling!” and then—from above, in the galleries, in the hall, from all sides, rose a volley of screams and shrieks, and a terrific rush followed.
The preacher paused in terror. Viewed from the orchestra, the body of the hall presented a scene of dire confusion and agonised excitement—the people tossed and tore each other in terror. Fortunately, from the door being encumbered by seats, a moment’s obstruction was given to the rush. That moment saved the lives of many who would have been overwhelmed in the tremendous pell-mell hastening, the furious onset towards the doors. This one instant gave time for more tranquil intervals. The preacher recovered himself, implored silence, assured the people of safety, and then, while the shrieks and screams still resounded, and terrible groans were beginning to be heard, even at that moment he set up a hymn, which, at first loudly chanted from the orchestra, soon spread itself over the troubled congregation in the body of the hall, who now seeing the galleries still above them, and the galleries still crowded with listeners, anxious and terror-stricken, yet eagerly hanging upon the preacher’s words, thus encouraged, joined in the hymn of praise and faith, and thus uttering that praise and faith, found safety in that confidence.
Image Credit: Contributors to Wikimedia projects. “Royal Surrey Gardens.” Simple English Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, 24 Mar. 2023, simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Surrey_Gardens.
Image Credit: Oct 19, 1856, Page 5 – The Morning Chronicle at Newspapers.com. www.newspapers.com/image/392722447/?match=1&terms=Royal%20Surrey%20Gardens.
