James had the Puritanism.
James had the Calvinism. James had the preaching. James had the wit. James had the illustrations. James had the pastoral heart. And little Charles sat there watching it all. REV. JAMES SPURGEON Rev. James Spurgeon, 1776–1864, was the paternal grandfather of Charles Haddon Spurgeon and one of the strongest early influences on the future “Prince of Preachers.” He served for more than fifty years as an Independent, or Congregational, minister at Stambourne, Essex, firmly representing the Puritan, Calvinistic, Nonconformist tradition. He was known as a serious gospel preacher with strong convictions, pastoral warmth, and a lively sense of humor. Charles was sent to live with his grandparents while still very young and spent several formative years in the Stambourne manse. There he encountered preaching, sermon preparation, Scripture reading, family worship, theological books, prayer, and pastoral ministry firsthand. James was not merely his grandfather but one of his earliest spiritual teachers. Charles remembered his grandfather preparing sermons and spending time in prayer and meditation in a secluded place near the manse. To the young boy, that place seemed sacred because it was associated with James’s communion with God and preparation for preaching. Family worship was central to the household. Charles was allowed to read Scripture aloud and was encouraged to ask difficult questions. When he questioned the meaning of the “bottomless pit” in Revelation, James gave him a serious explanation of everlasting judgment that left a lasting impression. The family lived simply and without luxury, but Charles was surrounded by Scripture, prayer, preaching, books, Christian fellowship, and ministerial example. James’s combination of doctrinal seriousness and humor also left its mark. Charles would later display the same ability to proclaim weighty truths while engaging listeners with wit, illustrations, and familiar expressions. James further taught Charles that strong convictions need not produce bitterness. Though a Nonconformist, he maintained a warm friendship with the local Church of England minister, demonstrating that theological differences could coexist with mutual respect and cooperation in Christian work. After Charles became a prominent preacher, he and James sometimes shared the pulpit. On one occasion, James interrupted to add a few remarks; on another, he encouraged Charles by saying, “Tell them that again, Charles.” The moment reflected their relationship: the grandfather who had preached for decades was now listening with joy as his grandson proclaimed the same gospel. James Spurgeon gave Charles more than a family connection. He gave him an atmosphere, an example, a heritage, and an early vision of pastoral ministry. His Puritanism, Calvinism, preaching, wit, illustrations, pastoral heart, and life of prayer all helped shape Charles’s mind, theology, character, and preaching instincts. John Spurgeon provided Charles’s immediate ministerial heritage, but James Spurgeon helped form the spiritual and pastoral atmosphere in which the future Prince of Preachers was raised. This signature we obtained in our collection of the grandfather of C.H.Spurgeon