A man of conviction
by Thomas Ray
Archibald Brown, who lived from 1844-1922, was for 31 years the popular and highly successful pastor of the East London Tabernacle. The church was exceeded in size only by Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle.
Brown had a rich spiritual heritage. His father, a successful businessman, was one of Spurgeon’s most generous and active deacons. However, young Archie had little or no interest in spiritual matters. He had a reputation as a jokester; some people doubted if he ever had a serious thought. Shortly after reaching his 17th birthday, he was introduced to the lovely Annie Biggs, who would eventually become his wife. Annie was a zealous believer and she immediately asked Archie, “Are you a Christian?” He was unable to give her a satisfactory answer. She proceeded to invite him to hear a lecture the following Monday, and this was the beginning of his transformation. Within days, he had totally committed his life to Christ and was baptized by Charles Spurgeon.
Brown preached his first sermon while still only 17 years of age at the City Mission. Upon his arrival he found a congregation of only 20 elderly women. Archibald said, “This will never do,” and he proceeded to visit the taverns surrounding the mission, inviting the men to hear him preach. Some laughed, others cursed, but between 40 and 50 men followed him to the mission to hear his sermon.
Believing God had called him to preach, he enrolled in Spurgeon’s Pastor’s College. Spurgeon promptly sent him to Bromley to minister to 20 people who were meeting in a rented hall. Under Archibald’s ministry the congregation experienced phenomenal growth. In less than three years the church was able to purchase property and construct a handsome brick chapel. This was an amazing achievement for a student pastor.
In 1866 the church meeting at Stepney Green in East London unanimously invited Archibald Brown to become their pastor. After much prayer and consultation he accepted their invitation. His success as a preacher and pastor continued at Stepney Green. The chapel which was designed to seat 850 could not contain the large crowds that came to hear the young preacher. It became obvious the church must relo cate and build a larger auditorium. In 1872, the newly named East London Tabernacle was opened with a seating capacity of 3,000.
Archibald Brown and the East London Tabernacle gained a reputation as one of the most evangelistic churches in England. For 20 years a congregation of 3,000 gathered each Lord’s Day to hear the Word of God, but perhaps even more amazing was the 1,000 or more who gathered for the Saturday night prayer service, and the fact that for 31 years there was not one Sunday when someone did not commit his or her life to Christ.
East London was known for its large number of working and unemployed poor. The church, in response to this need, employed nine home missionaries to visit the poor and minister to their spiritual and physical needs. The church also operated a feeding center and distributed each year thousands of items of clothing. They also established two orphanages, one for boys and another for girls.
In 1877 Spurgeon confronted the Baptist Union over its liberalism. The Union not only rejected his advice but voted to censure him. Archibald, who had a reputation as a theological conservative, was one of the few pastors who dared join Spurgeon and withdraw from the Union. He also withdrew from the London Baptist Association when they watered down their doctrinal position on inspiration.
In 1898 Brown retired as pastor of East London and moved to Norwood where he accepted the pastorate of the Chatsword Road Chapel — intending this to be his final pastorate. But in 1908 Thomas Spurgeon, the son and successor of Charles Spurgeon, suffered from failing health. The church turned to Archibald Brown and unanimously invited him to become the pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Believing it was the will of God, he accepted their invitation. This was a bold step of faith for a 64-year-old. From 1908 until 1911 Tabernacle flourished under his leadership. In 1911 health problems forced him to resign, but he did not remain idle. From 1911 to about 1918 he devoted himself to evangelism. He finally laid his sword down on April 2, 1922. He was 78 years old.
Archibald Brown’s sermon books are well worth reading even today.