Spurgeon’s College, based in Croydon, London and one of the UK’s leading Christian Colleges, has jointly announced with Pastor Rick Warren his installation as its first honorary Chancellor.

Pastor Warren will need no introduction for many Christians as an innovative American pastor, renowned author, and global influencer.

Beyond his international renown and missionary work, Pastor Warren’s appointment as Chancellor reflects his own deep and personal connection to the College as his great, great grandfather studied at Spurgeon’s and was commissioned to Christian service by Spurgeon himself.

Pastor Warren is the founding Pastor of Saddleback Church in California, which grew to over 30,000 weekly attendees across nineteen locations, including four international campuses, and an online campus hosting listeners from around the world.

Pastor Warren is the author of The Purpose-Driven Church and The Purpose-Driven Life, which have sold over 84 million copies worldwide. The Purpose-Driven Life has now been published in over 200 languages across more than 160 countries.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from California Baptist College, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

In January 2009, Pastor Warren delivered the invocation at the inauguration of Barack Obama.

As Chancellor, Pastor Warren will play a key role in supporting the vision of the College to train men and women for Christian mission, ministry and leadership in the contemporary world.

The ultimate aim of the College and Pastor Warren is to make Jesus known. In this way, their missions are aligned and seek to respond to the most recent census data showing that less than 5% of the UK population identify as practising Christians, yet 33% said they wanted to know more about Jesus.

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