Samuel Pike

Samuel Pike (1717?–1773) was a British clergyman and a member of a religious movement known as Sandemanians.

Life Pike was born about 1717 at "Ramsey, Wiltshire" (Wilson), which may mean Ramsbury, Wiltshire, or Romsey, Hampshire. He was educated for the independent ministry, receiving his general training from John Eames of the Congregational Fund academy, and his theology from John Hubbard at Stepney Academy. His first post as a minister was at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, about 1740. He moved in 1747 to succeed John Hill (1711–1746) as pastor at the Three Cranes meeting-house in Fruiterers Alley, Thames Street, London.

Early in his London ministry Pike established, in his house on Hoxton Square, an academy for training students for the ministry. He adopted the principles of John Hutchinson (1674–1737), and defended them (1753) in a long work. In 1754 he succeeded Zephaniah Marryat, D.D. (1684?–1754), as one of the Tuesday lecturers at Pinners' Hall. About the same time he joined Samuel Hayward (1718–1757), independent minister at Silver Street, Wood Street, Cheapside, in a Sunday-evening lecture, dealing with "cases of conscience", at Little St. Helen's Church, Bishopsgate Street. His Body of Divinity (1755) was criticised by Caleb Fleming.

He was married, and left children. (the substance of lectures by Pike and Hayward); Glasgow, 1762, 8vo; with title Religious Cases of Conscience, 1775, 8vo; 1807, 8vo; Romsey, 1819, 8vo; Philadelphia , 12mo; with title The Doubtful Christian encouraged, &c., Woodbridge , 8vo; in Welsh, 1769, 12mo. A form of Sound Words; or ... Body of Divinity, &c., 1755, 12mo; 1756, 12mo (based on the shorter catechism of the Westminster assembly). Public Fasting, &c., 1757, 12mo; 1758, 8vo. An Epistolary Correspondence between ... Pike and ... Sandeman, &c., 1758, 8vo; in Welsh, 1765, 12mo. Saving Grace, Sovereign Grace, &c., 1758, 8vo (lectures at Pinners' Hall); 1825, 8vo. Free Grace indeed! &c., 1759, 8vo; 1760, 12mo. A ... Narrative of the ... Schism in the Church under ... Pike, &c., 1760, 8vo. Simple Truth Vindicated, &c., 1760, 12mo (anon). The Nature and Evidence of Saving Faith, &c., 1764, 8vo.