Commonly referred to as the "soapboiler" – Thomas Lambe (also spelt Lamb) was the leader of one of the first Baptist Churches in England and a highly influential figure in the earliest years of the Baptist movement both in terms of practice and belief.
His exact birth date is unknown, but it was in the early years of the seventeenth century. Records of his activities exist from 1629 onwards, at which time he was living in St Giles in Colchester[1] with his wife and eight children.[2]
From 1629-1639 he was frequently in trouble with the Archdeacon’s Court in Colchester for preaching outside of the bounds of the Church of England during the time that the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Laud was seeking to impose uniformity upon the churches in England. This was to continue throughout his ministry as he was frequently arrested and imprisoned.
His Separatist views developed into distinctly Baptist beliefs and practices during the 1630s and by 1640 was leading a congregation of Baptist Christians meeting at Bell Alley in Coleman Street, London[3] (along with Samuel Oates and Henry Denne). He was soon arrested and imprisoned for four months and was released on bail June 25, 1640 , with the injunction "not to preach, baptize or frequent any conventicle."[4]
The meetings in Coleman Street were open to the public and reported as being lively: “Many used to resort to this church and meeting, the house, yards full, especially young youths & wenches flock hither and all of them preach universal redemption. In their church meetings and exercises there is such a confusion & noise as if it were a play.” This church was successful and was described by Robert Baillie in an anti-Baptist tract of 1647 as “Mr Lamb’s (sic) congregation, the greatest as they say, and most fruitful of all their societies without comparison.”[5]
He travelled extensively across England preaching, baptising and planting churches, for example in Gloucestershire in December 1641 where he preached at Cranham and “subverted many. And shortly after, in extreme cold, and frosty time, in the night season, diverse men and women were rebaptised in the Severn by Gloucester.”[6]
He published a number of books including most significantly: Fountaine of Free Grace Opened and A Treatise on Particular Predestination (1642) – in which he seemed to walk in some middle ground between the General Baptists (believing that Christ died for everyone) and the Particular Baptists (believing that Christ died for the elect). His ministry had a number of other distinctive features in comparison with some other seventeenth century Baptist leaders: freedom for women to preach in his meetings;[7] meetings open to the public; support for the Levellers;[8] and his irenical approach to the authorities and some of his fellow Baptists.
The date of his death is unknown – but probably in the 1660s.