Ray Rhodes Jr. brings this vibrant woman’s story to life for modern readers as he examines Susannah’s story, showing that she was not only the wife of London’s most famous preacher, but also a woman who gave all she had in grateful service to the Lord. Susie is an inspiring and encouraging account of a truly remarkable woman of faith that will delight Spurgeon devotees and fans of Christian biographies alike.
While many Christians recognize the name of Charles H. Spurgeon, the beloved preacher and writer, few are familiar with the life and legacy of his wife, Susie. Yet Susannah Spurgeon was an accomplished and devout woman of God who, in addition to supporting her husband, had a tremendous ministry of her own. Even through chronic health issues, she administered a book fund for poor pastors, edited and published her husband’s sermons, led a pastor’s aid ministry, made her home a hub of hospitality, and wrote five books. And as her own writings reveal, she was also a warm, charming, and fascinating woman.
Susannah Spurgeon was born on January 15, 1832. Married Charles Spurgeon on January 8, 1856. They had twin sons, Charles and Thomas, born on September 20, 1856, and both of whom became pastors which they attribute to their early religious up bringing.
Susie was known for her dedicated support of her husbands ministry, and for the Book Fund which she established in 1875, through which by the time of her death on October 22, 1903, she oversaw 200,000 theological books being distributed to needy pastors. She wrote several books of her own, starting with Ten Years of My Life in the Service of the Book Fund in 1886. She also served as co-editor and major contributor her husband’s Autobiography.
Author Ray Rhodes, Jr. chronicles Susie’s early days as a “city girl,” familiar with the cultural advantages of London and Paris, and her early introduction to Charles Spurgeon, a young country preacher whose appearance, speech, and mannerisms left her cold.
Letters and journals show that Susie traveled extensively with Charles, often leaving the safety of a horse-drawn carriage and hiked the trails on foot. Unfortunately she became house bound when her health began to decline in 1868.
Author Ray Rhodes Jr. has an extraordinary book about Susie’s entire life in a Victorian style era. A must read of a true biography of an amazing Christian woman.
RAY RHODES, JR. serves as founding pastor of Grace Community Church of Dawsonville, GA and as president of Nourished in the Word Ministries. He has served four congregations over three decades of pastoral ministry and for fifteen years, he has led Nourished in the Word. Ray has published several books and holds theological degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min.). He is married to Lori and they are blessed with six daughters and four grandchildren. Ray has long been a Spurgeon enthusiast, and his doctoral thesis focused on the marriage and spirituality of Charles and Susannah Spurgeon.