BY PAUL DEW
The Metropolitan Tabernacle was built in 1861 for Mr Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the charismatic and renowned Baptist Minister. Such was the popularity of his sermons that he could draw congregations in the thousands. It was noted by a contemporary that on occasions:
Seat holders were prevented from gaining their seats and that the crowds caused the doorways to be fully blocked up. People filled the approaches and yard to the front and stood as far as the sound could reach.
To deal with this multitude and maintain good order a churchwarden was appointed to the position of 'Constable'. This was PC Wooster, known by all as the "Tabernacle Policeman". His exact name and starting date is unknown but in his own words he worked for forty odd years. In April 1898 the Tabernacle was destroyed by fire and it is probable this conflagration marked the end of his service.
Not being sworn in as a Special Constable, PC Wooster probably derived his authority from the Ecclesiastical Courts Jurisdiction Act 1860 which gave Churchwardens, vergers and certain others power to remove or arrest for disturbances within the bounds of the church. He said at the time that in the Tabernacle he had the same powers as the ordinary Policeman in the street but, although a magistrate was later asked about obtaining full police powers, it was not considered worthwhile, besides which it would have required certain expenses. Finally, the church thought the sight of someone being dragged through the streets to the police station by their own employee was undesirable and best left to the Metropolitan Police.
However, as PC Wooster wore a standard eight button police tunic with the usual collar numerals, in his case MT 1, it is likely that his presence and demeanour had the desired effect. Details of his helmet, if he had one, are unknown as the only known picture shows him bareheaded. His role was to keep order in the Tabernacle with the proviso that he did not remove anyone "unless absolutely compelled to do so" because the Reverend Spurgeon had no wish to turn anyone away from the house of God. PC Wooster said it was usually drunks who had to be removed but that he often went for months without using force. In fact, such was the preacher's reputation that the opposite often applied and, as has been previously mentioned, the doors had occasionally to be shut to keep crowds out. The Reverend Spurgeon died in 1892 and PC Wooster ceased his employment some six years later after the disastrous fire that destroyed the building.
