Cock, Hendrik de (1801-1842) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Hendrik de Cock was born in Veendam, Groningen, the Netherlands on April 23, 1801.  De Cock's father was a minister of the Dutch Reformed Church, and like his father he pursued a career in ministry. He attended the University of Groningen to study theology and graduated in 1823.  De Cock accepted the call from the congregation of Eppenhuizen, Groningen and was ordained. In 1824 de Cock married Frouwe Venema.  In 1827 he moved on to serve the congregation of Noordlaren, Groningen for the next two years.

In 1829 Rev. de Cock accepted the call from a Dutch Reformed Church in Ulrum. During his time his preaching greatly changed due to him reading the Canons of Dordt and John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. Many people were drawn to Rev. de Cock's preaching, so much so, parents wanted him to baptize their babies. Once the clergy from the other congregations got wind of the baptisms they became infuriated.  They notified authorities and after much debate, de Cock was suspended as a minister from the Dutch Reformed Church in 1833. In October of 1834, Rev. de Cock and his congregation officially separated from the Dutch Reformed Church.  Rev. de Cock and his followers formed the Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands.

By 1837 Rev. de Cock became the minister of the Reformed Church in Groningen and would remain there until his death. Hendrik de Cock passed away due to lung disease on November 14, 1842. He was survived by his wife and five children.