Hendrik de Cock

Hendrik de Cock (12 April 1801 – 14 November 1842) was a Dutch minister responsible for the 1834–35 Dutch Reformed Church split due to his incarceration and suspension from office for his Calvinist convictions.

Hendrik de Cock protested against the perceived theological liberalism in the Netherlands government-controlled Dutch Reformed Church in the 19th century. This protest led to the Secession (Afscheiding) of 1834. He is sometimes called the father of the Secession of 1834.

Early life

Hendrik de Cock was born in the city of Veendam, Groningen, the Netherlands on 12 April 1801. His father was Regnerius Tjaarda de Cock and his mother was Jantje Kappen. His grandfather Regnerus Tjaarda de Cock was a minister in the Dutch Reformed Church around 1750.

His parents were associated with the Dutch Reformed Church. Shortly after de Cock's birth his family moved to Wildervank, Groningen. In 1824 he married Frouwe Venema

History In 1829, Hendrik de Cock (who is also known as the father of the Secession) became minister of the Dutch Reformed Church in the town of Ulrum,

The first two years under de Cock saw the formation of over 200 churches that quickly developed out of local Bible studies called, "oefeningen," with a leader who served as the "oefenaar," that were meeting in homes. Here believers had been reading together from the "Old Writers" (17th century Further Reformation" pastors and theologians) who emphasized not only mindful apprehension of Reformed doctrine but also personal appropriation of these Calvinist truths.

Other churches also left the Dutch Reformed Church to join Hendrik de Cock in the Christian Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (CGKN). These churches and their members would be called the "Secessionists" or "Seceders". This made it difficult, if not impossible, for the Seceders to gather to worship.

If any regulations imposed on them were broken, they were fined vast sums of money. If they were unable to pay the fines, their possessions were sold in Sheriff's sales and the proceeds paid to the government; if even this did not suffice, they would be imprisoned. He is buried in Groningen at the Southern Cemetery (Zuiderbegraafplaats) in a well marked (and maintained) grave. He was survived by his wife and five children, (son), Eelbrina de Cock (daughter) and Jantje de Cock (daughter) (born 20 January 1836).

Publications The friendly question from a circle of friends, answered from Damear Collected Writings A contribution to the right understanding of ecclesiastical separation

A number of his papers are held at Calvin University.