Christopher Love facts for kids
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Christopher Love (born 1618 in Cardiff, Wales – died 22 August 1651 in London) was a Welsh Presbyterian preacher. He was active during the English Civil War, a major conflict in England. In 1651, the English government executed him. This happened because they believed he was planning with the exiled royal family. Many Puritans in England saw Love as a hero and a martyr, someone who died for their beliefs.
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Love's Early Life and Beliefs
Christopher Love was born in Cardiff in 1618. When he was 14, he became interested in the Puritan faith. Puritans were a group of Christians who wanted to make the Church of England simpler. His father did not approve of his religious interests. So, he sent Christopher to London to become an apprentice, which is like learning a trade.
However, in 1636, Love's mother and his religious teacher helped him. They sent him to Oxford University instead. Later, William Laud, a powerful church leader called the Archbishop of Canterbury, tried to change the English church. Christopher Love was one of the first Puritans to speak out against these changes. As a young man, he worked as a private minister for John Warner, who was the sheriff of London.
Love's Challenges as a Preacher
A church called St Anne's, Aldersgate, asked Love to be a lecturer, which means he would give sermons. But William Juxon, the bishop of London, would not give him permission for three years. Archbishop Laud had warned Juxon to watch Love closely. Love did not want to become a minister in the way the English church did it. So, he went to Scotland to become a minister there. However, the Scottish church only ordained people who lived in Scotland, and Love planned to return to England.
When Love came back to England around 1641, the leaders of Newcastle invited him to preach. In Newcastle, Love began to criticize parts of the Book of Common Prayer in his sermons. This book was used for church services. Because of his sermons, he was sent to jail. He used a legal right called Habeas Corpus to challenge his arrest. The Newcastle authorities then sent him to London. He was tried in a court called the King's Bench and found innocent of all charges.
Love During the English Civil War
Around the time the First English Civil War began, Love preached in Tenterden, Kent. He spoke about how it was right to fight a war to defend oneself. The authorities accused him of treason, a very serious crime against the government. But Love was found innocent again in court. He even got his court costs back. Soon after, Love became a minister for Colonel John Venn's army group. He also became a preacher for the soldiers at Windsor Castle.
On 23 January 1644, in London, Christopher Love became one of the first preachers in England to be officially made a Presbyterian minister. This was done by Thomas Horton. After this, he became the pastor of a church called St Lawrence Jewry. Some people believed Love was part of the Westminster Assembly, a group of religious leaders who met to discuss church rules. However, later research showed that he was not a member of this group.
Love's Sermons and Conflicts
On 31 January 1645, Love gave a very strong sermon in Uxbridge. This was the same day that important people arrived there for peace talks, known as the Treaty of Uxbridge. Love later said that his preaching there was by chance. However, the House of Commons, a part of the English government, voted to bring Love to London. They kept him confined during the peace talks.
On 25 November 1646, Love preached before the House of Commons. He did not receive the usual thanks for his sermon. His sermon upset a group called the Independents. When the Independents gained more power in the House, they confined Love again. A special committee of the House also called Love to appear two more times. Even though Love was released, the English authorities continued to watch him closely.
Plot to Restore the King
In 1651, Christopher Love became involved in a secret plan. The goal of this plan was to bring Charles II back as the king of England.
As part of the plan, a group of Presbyterians sent Colonel Silius Titus to France. He was to deliver letters to Henrietta Maria, who was Charles II's mother. Another person, Colonel Ashworth, brought the replies back to Love's house in London. On 18 December 1650, Love's wife got official permission to travel to Amsterdam. During this time, Love also received letters from Scottish Presbyterians who supported Charles II. Love also held meetings at his home. They discussed how to raise money from English Presbyterians to buy weapons.
On 7 May 1651, Love and other important Presbyterians were arrested. They were held in Liverpool. On 14 May 1651, Love was officially arrested for high treason, a very serious crime against the government. He was then held in the Tower of London. In late June and on 5 July, he was tried in a special court called the high court of justice. Matthew Hale defended Love in court. The judge leading the trial was Richard Keble.
On 16 July, Love was found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. Robert Hammond, an army officer, wrote to Oliver Cromwell asking for Love to be treated less harshly. Love was first given a one-month delay, and then a one-week delay. On 16 August, Love wrote his final request for mercy to the English parliament. In this request, he admitted to almost all the charges against him. However, the English courts wanted to make an example of Love. They hoped this would stop any more trouble from the Presbyterians.
Love's Death
On 23 August 1651, Christopher Love was executed on Tower Hill in London. Two other ministers, Simeon Ashe and Edmund Calamy the Elder, were there. On 25 August, Love was privately buried at St Lawrence Church. Thomas Manton gave the sermon at his funeral. A poet named Robert Wild wrote a poem about his death called The Tragedy of Mr. Christopher Love at Tower Hill (1651).
Love was married to Mary Stone. They had five children. One of their children was born after Love's death. Three of their children died when they were babies or very young. Only two of their children, Christopher and Mary, lived to be adults. Two years after Love's death, his widow Mary married Edward Bradshaw. He was mayor of Chester twice. Mary and Edward had six children. Mary died in 1663.
Love's Published Works
After Christopher Love's execution, several leading Presbyterian ministers in London published his sermons. These included Edmund Calamy, Simeon Ashe, Jeremiah Whitaker, William Taylor, and Allan Geare. Some of his most important works are:
- Grace, the Truth and Growth, and different Degrees thereof (published in London, 1652);
- Heaven's Glory, Hell's Terror (1653);
- Combate between the Flesh and the Spirit (1654);
- Treatise of Effectual Calling (1658);
- The Natural Man's Case Stated (1658);
- Select Works (published in Glasgow, 1806–07, in 2 volumes).
He also wrote Short and plaine Animadversions on some Passages in Mr. Dels' Sermon (1646). This was a response to William Dell. Another work, A modest and clear Vindication of the ... ministers of London from the scandalous aspersions of John Price (1649), is thought to be by Love. It was a reply to a book by John Price.
