Thomas Cole (minister) facts for kids

Thomas Cole (born in 1628, died in 1697) was an English Christian minister. He was known for being an "Independent" minister, which meant his church was self-governing and not controlled by the official Church of England.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Cole was born in London in 1628. His father, William Cole, owned land and made sure Thomas received a good education.

Thomas went to Westminster School, a famous school in London. In 1646, he was chosen to study at Christ Church, Oxford, one of the colleges at Oxford University. He earned his first degree (B.A.) in 1649 and his master's degree (M.A.) in 1651. By 1656, he became the head of St. Mary Hall, another part of Oxford University. While teaching there, one of his students was John Locke, who later became a very important philosopher.

A New Path as a Minister

After King Charles II returned to the throne in 1660 (an event called the English Restoration), many ministers like Cole were removed from their official positions because they did not follow the Church of England's rules. This was known as "ejection."

After being removed from Oxford, Cole started his own special school called a dissenting academy in Nettlebed, Oxfordshire. These academies were for students who wanted to learn but did not fit into the official university system. One of his students there was James Bonnell.

Later, Thomas Cole became a minister for an Independent church in London. In 1674, he took over from another minister, Philip Nye, at the Silver Street meeting-house. His church moved to different locations over time, including Tallow Chandlers' Hall and then Pinners' Hall. He preached his last sermon at Pinners' Hall in August 1697.

Thomas Cole was buried in a place called Bunhill Fields in London, which was a burial ground for many non-conformist Christians.

His Writings

Thomas Cole wrote several books and sermons. These works shared his ideas about Christian faith and life.

• The old Apostolical Way of Preaching: a funeral sermon for Rev. Edward West, London, 1676.
• Discourses on Regeneration, Faith, and Repentance, London, 1689.
• The Incomprehensibleness of imputed Righteousness for Justification by Human Reason, till enlightened by the Spirit of God, London, 1692.
• Discourses on the Christian Religion, London, 1700.

He also wrote some shorter pieces, including poems.