Joseph Cooke
Encyclopedia
Rev. Joseph Cooke a Free Christian
, was expelled by the Wesleyan Methodists
on doctrinal grounds and became the inspiration behind the Methodist Unitarian
movement formed under the leadership of another former Wesleyan Joseph Ashworth.
in the Black Country
.
In 1795, Cooke entered the Methodist itinerancy. In 1803 he was appointed to the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Union Street, Rochdale
, east Lancashire
. During his ministry in the mill town
he was rebuked by the Conference and transferred to Sunderland
.
Whilst in the north-east, his supporters in Rochdale published two of his sermons on justification by faith. Later, during the 1806 Conference, he was expelled from the Wesleyan Methodists for preaching doctrines incompatible with Methodist beliefs. A significant proportion of the Union Street congregation supported their former minister and helped him to establish a brand-new chapel (The Providence Chapel, High Street) in Rochdale. Cooke ministered in the chapel and the surrounding districts until his death in 1811. At the time of Cooke's premature demise there were more than 1,000 'Cookites', organised around 16 'preaching-stations' and served by 18 preachers.
group.
Like many English General Baptist
s, the Cookites throughout east Lancashire were persuaded by Richard Wright (1765-1836), `the Unitarian missionary', to make common cause with their liberal Christian
counterparts within Unitarianism. In Rochdale, led by James Wilkinson, the Cookites, or ‘Methodist Unitarians’ as they soon became known, erected a new chapel in Clover Street in 1818. The chapel soon became known locally as the ‘Co-op chapel’ “because Wilkinson and at least nine of the original co-operators
worshipped there” . (This Methodist Unitarian link to the early labour movement continued. For example, both James Taylor and James Mills, the Rochdale and the Oldham delegates to the first Chartist
convention in 1839, were Methodist Unitarians) .
In 1890, the Clover Street Chapel congregation merged with the much older (seventeenth century) Unitarian meeting, Blackwater Street, and remains active today as part of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
.
The Unitarian Christian Association
was founded in 1991. One of its aims is to promote ‘Unitarian Christian’ religion in the congregations of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. This is an aim that Cooke himself would have approved of.
Free Christian
The term Free Christian refers specifically to individual members and whole congregations within the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches....
, was expelled by the Wesleyan Methodists
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
on doctrinal grounds and became the inspiration behind the Methodist Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
movement formed under the leadership of another former Wesleyan Joseph Ashworth.
Biography
Joseph Cooke was born near DudleyDudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
in the Black Country
Black Country
The Black Country is a loosely defined area of the English West Midlands conurbation, to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton. During the industrial revolution in the 19th century this area had become one of the most intensely industrialised in the nation...
.
In 1795, Cooke entered the Methodist itinerancy. In 1803 he was appointed to the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Union Street, Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
, east Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. During his ministry in the mill town
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
he was rebuked by the Conference and transferred to Sunderland
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
.
Whilst in the north-east, his supporters in Rochdale published two of his sermons on justification by faith. Later, during the 1806 Conference, he was expelled from the Wesleyan Methodists for preaching doctrines incompatible with Methodist beliefs. A significant proportion of the Union Street congregation supported their former minister and helped him to establish a brand-new chapel (The Providence Chapel, High Street) in Rochdale. Cooke ministered in the chapel and the surrounding districts until his death in 1811. At the time of Cooke's premature demise there were more than 1,000 'Cookites', organised around 16 'preaching-stations' and served by 18 preachers.
Methodist Unitarians
After Cooke’s death, Providence Chapel building in Rochdale was sold to a CongregationalistCongregationalist polity
Congregationalist polity, often known as congregationalism, is a system of church governance in which every local church congregation is independent, ecclesiastically sovereign, or "autonomous"...
group.
Like many English General Baptist
General Baptist
General Baptists is a generic term for Baptists who hold the view of a general atonement, as well as a specific name of groups of Baptists within the broader category.General Baptists are distinguished from Particular or Reformed Baptists.-History:...
s, the Cookites throughout east Lancashire were persuaded by Richard Wright (1765-1836), `the Unitarian missionary', to make common cause with their liberal Christian
Liberal Christianity
Liberal Christianity, sometimes called liberal theology, is an umbrella term covering diverse, philosophically and biblically informed religious movements and ideas within Christianity from the late 18th century and onward...
counterparts within Unitarianism. In Rochdale, led by James Wilkinson, the Cookites, or ‘Methodist Unitarians’ as they soon became known, erected a new chapel in Clover Street in 1818. The chapel soon became known locally as the ‘Co-op chapel’ “because Wilkinson and at least nine of the original co-operators
Rochdale Pioneers
The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, founded in 1844, was an early consumer co-operative, and the first to pay a patronage dividend, forming the basis for the modern co-operative movement....
worshipped there” . (This Methodist Unitarian link to the early labour movement continued. For example, both James Taylor and James Mills, the Rochdale and the Oldham delegates to the first Chartist
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
convention in 1839, were Methodist Unitarians) .
In 1890, the Clover Street Chapel congregation merged with the much older (seventeenth century) Unitarian meeting, Blackwater Street, and remains active today as part of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is the umbrella organisation for Unitarian, Free Christian and other liberal religious congregations in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1928, with denominational roots going back to the Great Ejection of 1662...
.
Unitarian organizations
In 1915, the Unitarian Historical Society was founded. It encourages and supports the study of Unitarian history and that of its constituent and related traditions, including the Methodist Unitarian movement inspired by Joseph Cooke.The Unitarian Christian Association
Unitarian Christian Association
The Unitarian Christian Association is a relatively small fellowship of Christians who feel an affinity with traditional Unitarianism and Free Christianity...
was founded in 1991. One of its aims is to promote ‘Unitarian Christian’ religion in the congregations of the General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches. This is an aim that Cooke himself would have approved of.