About the Tabernacle
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We give a warm welcome to any wishing to visit us.
You’ll find a friendly group of people of all ages and countries.
Every Sunday
Morning Teaching service
11.00am – 12.30pm
Sunday School
3pm – 4pm
› Read more
Evening Gospel service
6.30pm – 7.30pm
Weeknight meetings
Monday Prayer Meeting
7.30pm – 8.45pm
(held at the Tabernacle on the first two Mondays of each month; otherwise held on Zoom)
Wednesday Bible Study
7.30 – 8.45pm
Other services each year
Good Friday, 11am
Christmas Day, 11am
Live Broadcast
Watch Sunday services and Wednesday Bible studies live on our site. Click on the red banner at the top of the page at the start of a service.
Simultaneous Translation – Sunday services are available via headsets in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Farsi and Russian. (Wednesday Bible study in Spanish.)
Deaf Fellowship – BSL interpreters are present for all public services; please see the Deaf website for more details.
An induction loop is installed in the main sanctuary and in the lecture hall. This can be accessed by switching your hearing aid to ‘T’.
Student Tea is held at 5pm every Sunday before the Gospel Service at 6.30pm.
Our Doctrinal Basis
The Metropolitan Tabernacle is an independent reformed Baptist church. These are the key biblical policies we follow, laid down by our forebears such as C H Spurgeon.
› Read our full doctrinal basis
The Tabernacle Fellowship goes back to the year 1650, thirty years after the sailing of the Pilgrim Fathers.
During a time that Parliament had just banned Baptist meetings, the Tabernacle traces its roots to a congregation which braved constant persecution, and which met in a house in Kennington belonging to Widow Colfe. The meeting grew rapidly under its first pastor, William Rider, who apparently died in the plague.
Then came Benjamin Keach, famous for his books – still in demand – explaining the miracles, parables and metaphors of the Bible. A prominent leader among Baptists, he led the church through much persecution, and built its first chapel near Tower Bridge as soon as freedom came to Baptists in 1688.
› Read more of our history
Directions
Transport options
Bus Services
The following bus services stop outside the Tabernacle, or nearby:
1 12 35 40 45 53 63 68 133 148 155 168 171 172 176 188 196 333 343 344 360 363 415 453 468 C10 & P5
Rail Services
Southeastern and Thameslink trains to/from Elephant & Castle station, which is situated behind the Northern Line Tube entrance opposite the Tabernacle.
Tube Services
The Elephant and Castle Bakerloo and Northern Line exits are situated very close to the Tabernacle.
› See London Underground map
By Car
Many major roads including those from several Thames bridges (Vauxhall, Lambeth, Waterloo, Southwark, and London Bridge) converge on the Tabernacle. There is free off-street parking at the rear of the church on Sunday mornings and evenings (access is via Brook Drive and Pastor Street). Please note that the Tabernacle is in the Congestion and ULEZ zones.
Interested in the Christian Faith?
Here is a collection of material to help you investigate the facts of the faith, and the possibility of walking with God.
Student Focus Meetings
Student Focus talks are held at the Metropolitan Tabernacle for those of university age. Recordings from past meetings are available.
Supported Overseas Pastors
Currently eighteen men receive support from the Tabernacle.
› Read more