Rev Henry Cooke

Henry Cooke was one of the most influential Presbyterian ministers of the nineteenth century and one of the great public figures of Belfast and it has been commented that Cooke’s life constituted ‘a large portion of the religious and public history of Ireland’. So influential was in he in the Presbyterian church that his detractors referred to him as the

‘Presbyterian Pope’.

Born Henry Macook, Cooke had changed his name by 1808 and was ordained as Henry Cooke. Despite not being from a wealthy family, Cooke, apparently encouraged by his mother, achieved an education and at the age of 14 entered Glasgow University. Despite his earlier promise as a gifted student, Cooke did not graduate university with a degree but did later manage to become ordained and started his ministry in Duneane at the age of 20.

Moving to Donegore three years later, Cooke gained a local reputation for being a very talented and intelligent speaker. He married Ellen Mann with whom he would go on to have 13 children and during the years at this parish Cooke managed to return to study and achieve the university qualifications he had not completed earlier. He studied medicine and theology, not an unusual combination as during this time many Presbyterian ministers were physicians and surgeons which assisted the poorer members of their congregations.

In 1818 the Cooke and his family moved Killyleagh where his influence grew. He had a contact with evangelical aristocrats and through his sermons, some of which were published, Cooke gained a reputation as a spirited orator and driver for the strengthening of Evangelicalism in the Presbyterian Church. His influence and support continued, despite vocal opposition, for a scripture-based culture which upheld social and political

stability.

In 1829 Cooke's sway was such that a new church was built in May Street in Belfast, the centre of Ulster’s rapidly expanding industrial capital. Here Cooke preached to crowded congregations for 40 years in rousing sermons that even is detractors felt were impressive. It is said he rose daily at 4am to work, write and travel and his interests and influence grew to include politics, education and continuing to debate theological issues between various churches.

When Rev Dr Cooke died in 1868, he was given a public funeral, the procession of which stretched for two miles and included 154 carriages. Witnesses tell of thousands of spectators lining route, businesses closed and shops along the way draped in black. The News Letter reported that it was ‘in all respects like a royal or imperial demonstration'.