The story of the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle begins in 1881, when Thomas Spurgeon arrived to begin work as a pastor in the colonial city. Thomas' father was a well-known Baptist preacher who is regarded with respect to this day, and with his father's reputation that precedes him, Thomas built a church audience quickly and steadily. It soon became apparent that larger places were needed to conduct church services, so, after raising funds, the foundation stone for the new abode was laid on Easter Monday, 1884 at the central Queen Street site.