Richard Goodwin (minister) facts for kids

Richard Goodwin was an important religious leader in England during the 1600s. He helped start a new kind of church in a town called Bolton, in Lancashire, in 1672. This church later became known as the Bank Street Unitarian Chapel.

Richard Goodwin's Early Life and Work

Richard Goodwin was born in Sussex around 1613. He went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge when he was about 19 years old. In 1639, he earned a special degree called an MA.

He started his work as a minister in 1640 near Ainsworth in Lancashire. In 1641, he got married to Sarah, who was from Breightmet. Sadly, Sarah passed away in 1651.

Goodwin moved around a bit, working in places like Hull and London. He also lived for some time in Hargrave in Northamptonshire. In 1647, he became an assistant minister in Bolton le Moors. Ten years later, he became the main minister there.

A Time of Big Changes

Richard Goodwin was a Presbyterian minister. Presbyterians were a group of Protestants who believed churches should be run by elders, not bishops. In 1662, a law called the Act of Uniformity was passed. This law made many ministers, including Goodwin, leave their churches. This event is known as the Great Ejection.

Before Goodwin arrived, Bolton was a strong center for Puritanism. Puritans were a group of Protestants who wanted to make the Church of England simpler and more "pure." During the English Civil War, some people even called Bolton the Geneva of the North. This compared Bolton to Geneva, Switzerland, which was known for its very strict Calvinism. However, some historians say this comparison was made more out of frustration than accuracy.

Starting a New Church in Bolton

After he had to leave his church, Goodwin lived quietly near Manchester. But in 1672, things changed. The government relaxed some strict laws, like the Five Mile Act of 1665. This act had stopped ministers from preaching within five miles of a town.

Thanks to the Royal Declaration of Indulgence, Goodwin was able to get permission to preach again. His friends helped him build a special meeting place in Bolton. It was located at the corner of Deansgate and Mealhouse Lane.

At that time, this new meeting house was one of only two religious places in Bolton, besides the main parish church. Many important families in the area started going there. Goodwin himself had strong family ties to many of the town's leading people.

Richard Goodwin's Legacy

Richard Goodwin passed away on December 12, 1685, when he was 72 years old. He was buried in the parish church. The church group he started grew and eventually became the Bank Street Unitarian Chapel. His work helped shape the religious life of Bolton for many years to come.