Remembering Dr Henry Cooke

Today, 13th December 2018, marks the 150th anniversary of the death of Dr Henry Cooke. Dr Cooke was the great Protestant, Presbyterian Protagonist in this part of Ireland for half a century.

It has been said of Dr Henry Cooke that for half a century his life was a large portion of the religious and public history of Ireland.

During his days of public ministry for the cause of Jesus Christ he stood against the Arians and defended the doctrine of the Trinity; he argued for a thoroughly Christian education to be provided the schools of his day and he was unapologetically a Protestant and a unionist.

Henry Cooke died at his home on the Ormeau Road in Belfast, on Sunday, 13th December 1868.

The esteem in which he was held is evident by observing that it was decided to hold a public funeral for him. This was on the proposal of Robert Knox, Anglican Bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore.

Henry Cooke was buried in Balmoral Cemetery on 18th December. His wife Ellen has predeceased him by less than six months. Together they had thirteen children.

Dr Henry Cooke's memory was honoured by the erection, in September 1875, of what is now know as the ‘Black Man’ at College Square in Belfast, with its back towards the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, looking down Wellington Place towards the City Hall.