Anne Hutchinson: Pioneer of Religous Freedom

Anne Marbury, pioneer of religious freedom, was born in England around 1594. Her father, Frances, was a deacon at Christ Church in Cambridge. Outspoken, Frances was jailed for a year after speaking his opinion that many ordained ministers were unfit for the role. During this time England was in political and religious turmoil. King James I had tightened his grip on the churches after ascending the throne in an attempt to make the church another branch of the state. Angered, many citizens started their own religious movements, such as that of the Puritans.

Educated at home, Anne became enthralled with her father's books on religion and theology. She admired her father greatly, especially his strength to speak out against traditional church principles. The encouragement of her father to question and to come to her own conclusion on the matter of doctrine helped Anne to become a strong and confident woman.

Anne married William Hutchinson in 1612; a year after her father died. A wealthy textile merchant, William settled with Anne in her hometown of Alford. Soon after, the newlyweds began commuting to another town to hear the sermons of Puritan minister John Cotton. Cotton taught that people were born sinners and that the only way one could be saved was by having complete faith in God (the Covenant of Grace). The Anglican Church, on the other hand, believed that grace could only be reached through good deeds (the Covenant of Works) and thus set up rules of conduct for people to follow. When Cotton was expelled from his position in 1633, he emigrated to Boston. A year later, the Hutchinson's followed.

William's business continued to prosper and he soon became one of Boston's most prominent citizens. Anne worked occasionally as a midwife. The couple attended Cotton's church regularly and Anne started holding bible meetings in her home for women to discuss Cotton's sermons. Soon men, including ministers, were also attending. This was a bold move for Anne considering that women of this time were excluded from religious affairs. At first Anne was respected for her role, but that opinion soon changed after she started preaching religious views that were seen as radical.

Anne believed that no person could receive salvation directly through an institution of God. She claimed that "...laws, commands, rules, and edicts are for those who have not the light which makes plain the pathway. He who has God's grace in his heart cannot go astray." Puritans believed that salvation would be received only by adhering to the laws of church and government. Her group was labeled the Antinomians. Antinomianism is the belief that God's grace had freed the Christian people from needing to observe established moral laws. This idea is not at all what Anne believed.

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