Christopher Feake facts for kids

Christopher Feake (born 1612, died 1683) was an English minister who believed in self-governing churches. He was also a strong supporter of the Fifth Monarchists, a group who thought Jesus Christ would soon return to rule the world. Feake was put in prison because he spoke out against Oliver Cromwell, a powerful leader at the time. He was known for sharing ideas with the Levellers, who wanted more equal rights for people. Feake expressed his strong opinions through words, not violence. He also wrote against the Quakers, another religious group.

Who Was Christopher Feake?

Christopher Feake started his public life as a minister in London. We don't know much about his early years. Around 1643, he was giving lectures at All Hallows the Great church. He often spoke alongside other ministers like Henry Jessey. In 1645, he was a preacher in London without a permanent church. He preached in different places, supporting churches that chose their own members. He also spoke against tithes (church taxes) and the Westminster Assembly, a group that set rules for the church.

Feake's Early Ministry

In January 1646, Feake became the vicar of All Saints, Hertford. This church position had been taken from someone else. While there, he did not follow the usual rules for church services. He stopped singing psalms and using the Lord's Prayer. He also did not baptize babies. In his sermons, he predicted that all governments would fall. He believed this would happen because they were against Christ. He even said that the government of Holland was doomed for allowing certain religious ideas.

When a local official made complaints against Feake, his supporters came to court. They filled the courtroom, and the judge had to drop the case.

Speaking Out Against Leaders

In 1649, Feake became the vicar of Christ Church, Newgate. He also took on a lecturing role at St. Anne's, Blackfriars. On April 28, 1650, he gave a sermon at Mercers' Chapel. This sermon was about the Fifth Monarchy beliefs and was later published. Soon after, he joined a Baptist church that met in Blackfriars.

By October 1651, Feake became a leader of a group that disagreed with Oliver Cromwell. This group felt that Cromwell and the army leaders were becoming too focused on their own power. The Fifth Monarchist political movement officially began in December 1651, led by Feake and John Simpson. Feake's preaching became very strong in its attacks on the government. In November 1653, he said that the Barebone's Parliament was no better than the previous Rump Parliament. He even called Cromwell "the most dissembling and perjured villain in the world."

Imprisonment and Release

Because of his strong words, Feake was brought before the English Council of State. He lost his church positions and was sent to Windsor Castle as a prisoner. He was likely set free in 1655. However, he was soon brought before the council again. After being questioned by Cromwell himself, Feake was sent back to Windsor. Cromwell chose not to put him on trial. This was because the punishment for his actions could have been death.

In the summer of 1656, Feake was still officially a prisoner. But he was allowed to live in London under a type of house arrest. He seemed to gain full freedom after Cromwell's death in 1658. After 1660, he disappears from historical records. When he was arrested in 1653, Feake had a wife and eight children.

What Did Feake Write?

Christopher Feake published several writings. These often shared his strong religious and political views.

• The Genealogy of Christianity (1650): This was a sermon he gave, dedicated to the Lord Mayor of London.
• The New Nonconformist (1654): He wrote this pamphlet while he was imprisoned in Windsor Castle.
• The Oppressed Close Prisoner in Windsor Castle (1655): This writing likely described his experiences in prison.
• He also wrote introductions or advertisements for other people's books. For example, he wrote for The Little Horns Doom (1651) by Mary Carr. He also contributed to A Faithful Discovery (1653), a work against the Yorkshire Quakers.
• Feake wrote an address for Mr. Tillinghast's Eight last Sermons (1656). In this, he mentioned it was his second time being imprisoned.
• He contributed to The Time of the End (1657) by John Canne.
• A Beam of Light (1659): This was a pamphlet about recent political events.

Other writings also mentioned Feake. For example, The Declaration of Prophetick Proposals, touching Mr. Feak (1653) by Arise Evans talked about him. A pamphlet from 1660, A Word for All: or the Rump's Funerall Sermon, made fun of Feake.