St Mary's Church, Putney

I caught the River Bus from Westminster to Putney, enjoying interesting views from the Thames. A short walk from the stop was the church of St Mary the Virgin. This is where Thomas Cromwell, Henry Tudor’s unfortunate Lord Chancellor, was baptised, but this was not my reason to call. It was in these premises in 1647 that the Putney debates were held. These were a series of minuted discussions held within the Parliamentary Army regarding what England ought to become now that the King was defeated and the war, or so they thought, concluded. The Army was more radical than its parliamentary paymasters, who wanted a Presbyterian state church with a constitutional monarchy. Many in the Army were wishing to abolish state churches and the accompanying coercion, and were of the Independent or Congregationalist persuasion. Furthermore, many would move in the direction of republicanism when Charles Stuart’s duplicity became apparent.

Even within the Army, there were divisions similar to our right-left axis, with some, like Cromwell, favouring the essential status quo, and more radical elements, like Colonel Thomas Rainsborough, below, seeking greater economic and political equality. Tastefully inscribed onto one of the walls is Rainsborough’s most memorable contribution, oft-quoted:

For really I think that the poorest he that is in England hath a life to live, as the greatest he.

Although those old puritan warriors would be appalled by the immorality and godlessness of our times, some would approve, I think, of the redistributive taxes, government support and universal franchise (right to vote). Much of what we enjoy today and even take for granted was sought and fought for by a better generation than ours. They had the piety and zeal, the generous fruits of which we enjoy, while lacking their deeply scriptural roots.

Thou shalt give him, and let it not grieve thine heart to give unto him: for because of this the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand to. Because there shall be ever some poor in the land, therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor in thy land. Deuteronomy 15:10-12, 1599 Geneva Bible