Article by Charles Spurgeon about
Poplar and Bromley Tabernacle

The Sword and Trowel, 1883

The accompanying engraving is a representation of the tabernacle which was opened, on the 13^th of September last, for the ministry of Pastor W. T. Lambourne, who entered the College in 1872. It has been the lot of Mr. Lambourne to serve the Master in one of the most needy quarters of the metropolis, and the completion of this new building shows in what degree his persevering labours have been successful. He began with scarcely any congregation at all; but there is a fair prospect of the new building — which will seat over eleven hundred persons — being fairly filled from Sabbath to Sabbath. The cost will be £3,700, and about a fourth part of that sum will have to be raised before the debt is finally extinguished. The energy whichthe pastor has thrown into the work deserves to be cordially recognized; and much is it needed in his vast and religiously destitute district. there are miles upon miles of streets, and a teeming population, in Poplar, and churches and chapels appear to be almost as scarce as trees in a sandy desert. The chapel is so constructed that an additional gallery can be put in when required, and we trust that this will speedily be the case. The present schoolroom is not half large enough to accommodate the children who attend, and a sum of £1600 is required to double the space, by raising the roof and putting in another floor. This work will not be begun until the main building is out of debt. Mr. Lambourne has gathered his own congregation; and there is room for other brethren who have the ability to build upon their own foundation. The harvest is vast indeed in the East End; where are the labourers? London grows at an amazing rate, and there are few that lay its needs to heart. It threatens to become the citadel of heathenism, for attendance at places of worship grows less and less from year to year; and houses of prayer do not multiply as the people do. The struggle to build a new chapel is something terrible: men fail under it. Yet this need not be, and should not be. If men of wealth gave as they should there would remain no great difficulty; but, alas, few think of their stewardship, and many care only to increase their hoardings. A curse is on the gold which is withheld at the price of blood — reserved to the ruin of souls.