Journal: Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry
Volume: JBTM 11:1 (Spring 2014)
Article: John Smyth And Thomas Helwys: Theological Differences
Author: Joe Early

JBTM 11:1 (Spring 2014) p. 26

John Smyth And Thomas Helwys:
Theological Differences

Joe Early

Joe Early is Associate Professor of Theology at Campbellsville University in Campbellsville, Kentucky.

John Smyth (1570–1612) studied at Cambridge from 1586 to 1593 and served as a fellow from 1594 to 1598. At this time, many of the great Cambridge professors such as William Perkins, William Ames, and Francis Johnson were ardent Puritans. Like so many Cambridge students in this era, Smyth came to believe the Church of England maintained too many Roman Catholic practices. He then embraced Puritanism and began to denounce the Anglican Church’s spiritless worship, use of the Book of Common Prayer, and ecclesiastical structure. While city lecturer of Lincoln, he made his stance known to his congregation and was dismissed in 1602. This event and several similar later encounters hastened his movement from Puritanism to Separatism.

Thomas Helwys (1575–1612) was a member of the landed gentry and from 1592 to 1595, studied common law at Gray’s Inn in London. His family believed that a degree in common law would help him better administer their large estate, Broxtowe Hall, in Nottinghamshire. Helwys had no formal theological training, but he would have known of the public executions of Separatists John Penry, John Greenwood, and Henry Barrow in London in 1593. These executions may have elicited his sympathy and interest in their convictions. Upon returning to Broxtowe Hall in 1595, he invited Separatist-leaning Puritans such as Richard Bernard to preach at his estate. Helwys then extended the privilege to other Puritan ministers. Smyth first met Helwys in 1600 when Helwys permitted Smyth to preach at Broxtowe Hall. His first meetings with Helwys coincided with Smyth’s transition from Puritanism to Separatism. Over the next several years, Smyth was Helwys’ frequent guest. In 1606, Smyth contracted tuberculosis and spent several months convalescing under Helwys’ care. Smyth then convinced Helwys that the Anglican Church was beyond repair and brought him into the Separatist fold.

Later that year, Smyth became the pastor of a growing Separatist congregation that, for reasons of safety, split into two groups. One met at Gainesborough and the other at Scrooby Manor in Nottinghamshire. John Smyth and Thomas Helwys led the Gainesborough group; Richard Clifton and John Robinson headed the Scrooby Manor members. Both churches, however, bound themselves to a mutual covenant, considered themselves a single congregation, and accepted Smyth as their pastor. Out of fear of persecution and a desire to worship according to their conscience, Smyth relocated both groups to Amsterdam, Holland, where upon arrival they would worship as one congregation. Since Holland had no state religion,...