ABSTRACT
Spurgeon thought of himself as cast in the Puritan mold, but he was far more a child of his century than he realized. He succeeded in a variety of roles—pastor, teacher, author, administrator—precisely because he was an accurate reflection of the virtues of his times, a man who perfectly embodied the shrewd, pragmatic qualities of the dominant middle class. Spurgeon's energy, determination, and vision were responsible for the Metropolitan Tabernacle, and the building bore the firm impression of his personality. He personally supervised every aspect of the project. He chose the site over the objections of his deacons, he selected the name, he even dictated the architectural style of the building. The control that he exercised was all the more remarkable considering his real lack of pastoral experience—a couple of years in rural Waterbeach followed by the frenzied years of his early London ministry.
