Chelmsford New Town

Not a proposal for urban renewal, but the story of a great transformation when Chelmsford became a stronghold of goodness rather than a place of vice. This dramatic change was the consequence of one man's powerful preaching, and that man was Thomas Hooker - the famous Puritan.

Thomas Hooker, whom God used in so many ways, was born at Markfield, near Leicester, in 1586. He began his education at a nearby grammar school and then went on to graduate at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

Founded by Sir Walter Mildmay, it was the most Puritan of the colleges, and where Hooker was to become a Fellow. Despite the respect of his colleagues, his scholarship and his status, he had no peace of mind. He was deeply troubled by the thought that, as a sinner, he was under the righteous anger of a Holy God. He continued in this sad state until he learned to trust in the promises of God's Word. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; (Romans 5:1).
It became his practice, every night, to consider one of God's many promises in the Bible, and to meditate on it before he fell asleep. Having learnt this lesson for himself, he was well qualified to help others with a tender conscience. Whilst Rector of Esher, (he had been appointed in 1620), he gave spiritual comfort to a gentlewoman that even the great Archbishop Ussher had been unable to assist.

Under the influence of John Rogers, of Dedham, his Puritanism became more pronounced and, in 1626, he accepted the post of Town Lecturer at St Mary's Church, in Chelmsford. As lecturer, Hooker preached a monthly week-day sermon, whilst assisting the Rector of Sundays, and teaching at a School in Great Baddow. At these lectured, he preached God's Word with great power and authority, so that the influence of his ministry spread throughout Essex. His preaching transformed not only the character of the town, but also the surrounding county. One scorner, who had mocked, 'Come, let us go hear what the Bawling Hooker will say unto us', stayed to repent of his sins; being converted by the quick and powerful Word of God, proclaimed by the faithful Thomas Hooker.

Hooker's message made him very popular with the younger ministers, but others were equally opposed to the non-conformity of his Puritanism. Matters came to a head when William Laud was appointed Bishop of London in 1628. A confidant of Charles I, he was a High Churchman who was determined to enforce total conformity to the Book of Common Prayer and the strict observance of all Anglican ceremonies. Hooker was not without support from his fellow clergymen in Essex, but, from the outset, the ultimate outcome was inevitable. Although forty-nine of the clergy asked Laud to allow Hooker to continue in Chelmsford, forty-one urged him to force 'irregulars' to conform. One need not wonder who was most persuasive; by February 1630, Hooker had been 'silenced' and the Chelmsford lectureship was vacant.

Meanwhile, Hooker had opened a school at Little Baddow, about five miles from Chelmsford, where John Eliot served as his assistant; the two men living and working together. Eliot was also to emigrate to North America, where he became the first Christian missionary to native Americans. In 1631, following further harassment because of his faithful ministry, Hooker felt it prudent to leave his homeland for Holland, where he preached for a few years in Amsterdam, Delf, and Rotterdam.

In 1633, he sailed for New England with his family; landing on the 4th of September, after an eight-week voyage. Some of the people settled in Boston, but other went on with Hooker to Newtown (now Cambridge) - both in the Colony of Massachusetts. As ever, his faithful ministry attracted many adherents, and the area was not able to support the increasing number of settlers. Differences of opinion also began to emerge, and so, in June 1636, Hooker set out with a hundred followers for new territory. During an heroic, two-week march through the wooded wilderness, they travelled a hundred miles westward to the banks of the Connecticut river. Their settlement, on land bought from native Americans, was named Hartford; later becoming the state capital of Connecticut. Much could be said about his leadership role on the colonies of New England; in particular Connecticut, where one writer described him as a virtual dictator. Having said that, he taught that all civil authority is based on the free consent of the people, and earned for himself the title of 'the father of American Democracy'. In the church, he preferred the more autonomous Congregational system of governance to the hierarchical structure of Presbyterianism, and defended his views in 'A Survey of The Summe of Church Discipline', published posthumously in 1648. Hooker left a great library of books, including a number of others that he had written, on such topics as the Lord's Prayer, Christian Doctrine and Church discipline in New England; one of the most highly valued being, 'The Poor Doubting Christian Drawn to Christ'.

When he died during an epidemic, on the 7th of July 1647, his passing was mourned as a public calamity. As he lay dying of the fever, a man standing by his bed side said, 'Sir, you are going to receive the reward of all your labours.' Raising himself in the bed Hooker replied, 'Brother, I am going to receive mercy.'
Thomas Hooker knew what it meant to pray - God be merciful to me a sinner, and, like that man, went down to his house justified. (Luke 18:9-14)