A former British Army chaplain has been appointed as the new principal of one of the UK's leading Baptist seminaries, Spurgeon's College.

The Rev Prof Philip McCormack MBE will serve as Spurgeon's College's next principal beginning September 1 2017, the college announced last week.

McCormack is currently a senior chaplain in the British Army, delivering pastoral care and spiritual support to military recruits, and training future chaplains. He is also a widely-published author and academic, specialising in the field of ethics.

He said: 'I am humbled and thrilled to be appointed as the next Principal of Spurgeon's College. I look forward to working with an outstanding college team whose enthusiasm for the life, work and ministry of the college is inspiring.

'Working together with our national Baptist church family, the wider Christian community in London and internationally, I am convinced that Spurgeons' reputation as a world-class leader in preparing Christians for service in the Kingdom of God will continue to flourish and expand.'

McCormack succeeds Rev Dr Roger Standing, who became the college principal in 2013. The institution was founded by famed preacher Charles Spurgeon just six years after his 1850 conversion. In Spurgeon's lifetime, the college trained nearly 900 ministers and planted 200 new churches in Britain. It describes its mission as providing a 'Christ-centred, biblically-rooted training in discipleship for the practice of mission and ministry'. 

Rev David Kerrigan, chair of the college council, applauded the move. 'I am delighted that Philip has been appointed principal elect of Spurgeon's. He brings to the post significant experience of senior leadership. We found his vision for the future of the college compelling and look forward with anticipation to working with him,' he said.

Sarah King, the chair of governors, called McCormack a 'gifted leader and a clear strategic thinker with an exciting vision for the future of the college as it seeks to support the Baptist movement, both locally and nationally, and works ecumenically to equip churches, especially those with black and minority ethnic and Pentecostal identities, in London and the South East. As a board, we look forward to working with him.'