1783 ROWLAND HILL. Important Sermon Preached at the Opening of Historic Surrey Chapel.

Surrey Chapel, the Independent Methodist Church established by Evangelist and Pastor Rowland Hill, was perhaps the most important Evangelical Church of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. 

The London Missionary Society met there for over 50 years, commissioning Robert Moffat and John Williams to service; it was considered the invitation for prominent preachers of all kinds. Thomas Chalmers, Thomas Scott, Henry Venn, and just about every other prominent Divine and Missionary of the era preached there. In many ways, it was the model of Spurgeon's later years at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Spurgeon wrote a forward to Hill's biography and later included him in his Eccentric Preachers, which was, in Spurgeon's mind, a compliment. 

The Chapel was principally underwritten by Selina, Countess of Huntingdon with smaller contributions from prominent Methodists, philanthropists, and those who attending at its opening. A wonderful little item and quite scarce. 

Hill, Rowland. Christ Crucified, the Sum and Substance of the Scriptures. A Sermon Preached by Rowland Hill, A. M. On Whitsunday, June 8, 1783 on the Opening of the Surry [sic] Chapel, St. George's Road. London. C. Dilly. 1783. 30pp.

Generally good and clean with some light foxing and handling; formerly in a larger sammelband and thus tender.