Stockwell Orphanage

Wikipedia:

Spurgeons was founded in 1867 by Charles Haddon Spurgeon.^[3] as Stockwell Orphanage – due to its location.

The inspiration for starting an orphanage came from a visit with George Muller.^[4][5][6] and then spurred on by a donation of £20,000 by Anne Hillyard.^[7][8][9] However, it wasn’t this £20,000 that was used to fund the beginning of the orphanage. Spurgeon records in the 1876 publicationThe Metropolitan Tabernacle. Its History and Works that the gift was railway debentures and a ‘financial panic’ meant that they couldn’t be realised. Spurgeon then records that others gave to allow the land to be bought and houses to be built.

This involvement of individuals in the Orphanage continued throughout Spurgeon’s life. In each monthly Sword and Trowel he recorded the gifts given. In the issue of December 1889 Spurgeon records that between October 15 and November 14 158 separate individuals, 275 collectors and 15 Orphanage choir appearances netted £797/12/1. This opened for boys in 1867 and for girls in 1879.

The orphanage continued in London until they were bombed in the Second World War. The orphanage changed its name to Spurgeon’s Child Care in 1937,^[10] and again in 2005 to Spurgeons.^[11][12]

From: THE SWORD AND THE TROWEL, JANUARY, 1869.

“BLESS THE LORD O MY SOUL.”
BY C. H. SPURGEON.

THE Orphanage at Stockwell was not of our designing, but a work given us by our Great Taskmaster, whom it is joy to serve. Entering upon the work at his bidding, we felt sure of his help; we prayed for it, and at ‘once received delightful earnests or what the Lord intended to bestow. Month by month the hand of the All-sufficient God has sent a goodly portion of the sum required to erect the buildings, until on this first month of 1869, we are able to record that when the students have paid all their amount, and Messrs. WINNER & GOODALL have finished the two houses given by the Baptist churches (and both these amounts are sure to be made up ere long), the whole of the Orphanage buildings will be paid for. -In fact, the whole amount needed may be said to be raised. Blessed, for ever blessed be the name of the Lord.

In the month of December there still remained £1,500 to be raised, and much prayer was offered by me both day and night distinctly for this amount. The Lord began to answer, and stayed not has hand till he had given all. A beloved sister in the Lord called with £100, half of which she gave to the College, and the other £50 to the Orphanage. Here was a commencement. A day or two afterwards, a legacy left by Mr. Doodle, of Long Crendon, which amounted net to £225, was paid. Two days after, our dear brother and deacon, MR. Hands, volunteered £200 to furnish the house which he had already given, and then to crown all, we received by post from some generous friend unknown to us, two Bank of England notes for £500 each: we believe it to be from the same hand which sent large sums before. The Lord abundantly bless all these donors, and especially that unknown steward of his house who so bounteously and secretly helps the orphan’s cause. We sang “Praise God from whom all blessings flow” with the family in which we reside, and then retired to rest with a heart full of gratitude, magnifying the faithfulness of the Lord. On the next service night we held a special meeting to the Lord that heareth prayer, and thus we set up our Ebenezer to his name.

Image Credit: Images, Internet Archive Book. “Image From Page 142 of ‘Life and Works of Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon : Being a Graphic Account of the Greatest Preacher of Modern Times …’ (1892).” Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14765940105.