Samuel Collins became vicar at Braintree in the year 1610. The previous hundred years had seen the arrival of the Reformation, vast changes in England's churches, and in 1603, in an attempt to avoid civil war, England invited James VI to become King of England. While this avoided civil war it did not enable a peaceful church. James had a liking for Catholic ways, something which did not go down well in Calvinist Scotland, and James was determined to have his way in an England he saw as more open to his ideas.
The Reformation had arrived in England not via good preaching from courageous men but by a deranged King desperate for a male heir. The conflicts that followed Edward, then Mary, then Elizabeth had left their mark and James did manage to bring equanimity to the nation if nothing else. His desire to be seen as an academic brought about his translation of the bible know to Christians as the 'Authorised Version,' (AV). James had already attempted such a translation by himself.
However, in 1625 Charles I became king as he had neither his fathers religious knowledge of faith but he had inherited his approach to the 'Divine Right of Kings.' Therefore until his death the nation had much trouble.
Charles employed William Laud as Bishop of London and then Archbishop of Canterbury. This led to trouble for Samuel Collins and all vicars who leant towards Puritanism. Collins was not of an ilk to leave the Church of England, and rather despised those who did. However, he did support those who did as much as was possible without losing his job. Essex being a Puritan county there were many churches run by Puritan leaning men, usually with a similar mind set off the congregation. This was trouble.
Archbishop Laud was not a Puritan! He was no Catholic, but he strongly opposed the Puritan influence on the church and instructed all to follow what many considered 'Popish' ideas.
Over the next few years many men lost their livelihoods, were refused the right to preach, and soon people were leaving for Amsterdam or New England. When the 'Lyon,' left for New England in 1640 some 15 leading families from Braintree went with it. Such numbers caused many practical problems, let alone the loss of revenue, usually suffered by the vicar who's income was hit by the lack of tithes.
During these years Samuel was seen as a man who held off, at great risk to himself and family, Laud's approaches, preached on Sundays and led many other meetings. Led the 'Four & Twenty' leading citizens who formed a type of council, provided cash to aid the poor and other emergencies and was seen as a man who spoke for God at all times. He was clearly loved by most of the people, trouble coming only from those who felt he ought to join them and leave aside the 'Popish ways' demanded by Laud. Of a population of around 5000 in the two towns of Braintree and Bocking, some 800 would meet in John English's barn to worship freely in what they considered a biblical manner. No wonder Laud was Irked! But that is typical Essex.
In spite of his troubles Collins was popular enough to last as vicar from 1610 until 1661 when he retired, probably worn out! He lasted longer than Archbishop Laud who's troubling antics came to an end in January 1645 when he was beheaded. I think this a good way to deal with heretical Archbishops and Bishops myself. Laud was not lauded when he lost his head, Samuel Collins was. The sermon preached at his funeral in 1667 was some 60 pages long! Try that today! His biblical approach, his love for God and people, his determination, indeed his impatience, led to many favouring him. This included those who sailed away to the New World. (incidentally, of the approx 125 who sailed, there are some 3 million descendants, including those called 'Kellog,' consider that when eating breakfast.)
A vicar who had a large congregation, a powerful town council, an angry Archbishop, Puritans separatists, Civil War, and loss of congregation to foreign parts, yet attempted to follow his Lord through all this, often at great risk to himself. Samuel Collins is a man who ought not to be forgotten by this town.
