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SARAH HAWKEN (née COOPER)
29th February 1912, THE UNITED METHODIST (newspaper)
The late Mrs William Hawken.
UNLIKE many of the other noble women who were fully the equal of their worthy husbands, the makers of the Bible Christian Denomination, William Hawken's wife was not of the West Country, and was not brought up in Methodism. Her home village was Dallinghoo, four miles from Fitzgerald's Woodbridge in Suffolk. The Parish was without dissent. It was in her girlhood scarcely necessary. Evangelical piety of the best Anglican type flourished. Rev. Ellis Walford was, as William Hawken was fond of saying, "a converted man". Nothing but a law, with which he had no sympathy, prevented him asking the Bible Christian minister who made one of his communicants a Methodist minister's wife, to occupy his pulpit. Nothing did prevent him standing side by side with William Hawken in the conduct of a service in the parish schoolroom. And it was he who wrote one of the two credential letters which William Hawken presented to the Bible Christian Conference of 1865, when asking permission to make Sarah Cooper his second wife.
The other letter, copies of the letters are before me, was written by another Anglican clergyman bearing a well-known and honoured name, Rev. George Protheroe, Canon, one of Queen Victoria's chaplains, and rector of Whippingham, East Cowes, Isle of Wight.
It was there they met. William Hawken was a Bible Christian minister at Ryde. Sarah Cooper was housekeeper for her uncle, James Graystone, Canon Protheroe's gardener. He wrote, "She has filled a situation of some trust during the greater part of that time (her residence in the parish) in a most exemplary manner. Indeed, it would be difficult to over-rate the respect she has gained for herself since she has resided in this parish." A story of those days may be permitted. Miss Cooper was a close friend of the caretakers of Whippingham Church which, as Queen Victoria's favourite church, was in Victorian days a place much frequented by visitors. One day a small party entered the church and were about to enter the Royal pew which was barred to the ordinary tourist. Miss Cooper politely but firmly denied admission. To her confusion she found her visitors were from Osborne, and included a princess whom she had not recognized. In after years she delighted to tell how she tried to keep one of the Queen's daughters out of the Queen's pew.
It was in that pretty Whippingham Church that William Hawken and Sarah Cooper were married by Canon George Protheroe in 1865. There began thirty eight, or nearly thirty eight years, of wedded life which continued and ended as it began - a love match indeed. It was not one of those life journeys in double harness in which there is never a jolt, never a strain of the harness. They were too independent in judgement and forceful in character for that. Yet it was the triumph of their great love and deep piety that two so high-spirited and strong-willed souls never wounded each other, were never for an hour estranged. He was always a tender chivalrous, patient, high-souled lover. She was ever, loving, loyal, devoted, and to his every interest true as that Word of God which dwelt in them richly.
Woodchurch, in Kent (Ashford Circuit, formerly Tenterden Mission), where their only two sons were born, Chipstead (Sevenoaks Circuit), Chepstow, Mon., Hatherleigh, Padstow, Lifton (Launceston Circuit), Scilly Isles, Crondall were the places of sojourning in the itinerant ministry. In all these Mrs. Hawken was a builder of the church, a winner of souls and a helpmeet in the business and other care of the churches. As a typical instance of her ministry the following from her much-beloved friends of many years' standing, Rev. Mark and Mrs. Brokenshire, may be quoted; the writer is Mr. Brokenshire:-
"Mrs Brokenshire knew about her directly more than I had the privilege of experiencing. She said, after reading the account, how it reminded her of a striking scene at Woodchurch. Mrs. B. was staying at their (Mr. and Mrs. Hawken's ) house, and attended a love feast at which Mrs. Hawken related her Christian experience. The effect was so thrilling that one dear man seemed quite carried away out of himself into another world. Then Mrs. Hawken spoke to the people at the door as they retired, comfort to the sorrowing, exhortation to the unconverted. As Mrs. B. was then a seeker after salvation all this was most helpful. She says, Mrs. Hawken was a fine noble-minded woman, and a model minister's wife."
It is remarkable how one, brought up in the Anglican Church until over thirty years of age, should have become so thoroughly at home in the class meetings and revivals of Methodism. Class meetings, love feasts, revival meetings she loved with all her heart. In all these she was in perfect union with her husband. There were days and weeks in the long ago when they lived as if Heaven were on earth, when every night brought its revival meeting, and the wrestling for souls and songs of victory. How she cared for the "young men," the probationers who dwelt in the home in some circuits. Among them ministers still in the ranks who delight to honour her name and memory, and whose tender tributes have blessed those she has left. To the very last ministers, especially younger men, found inspiration and comfort in visiting her.
On the last day of 1911 she would stay up to watch the New Year in. The Watchnight was ever a favourite service. When the clock struck midnight she said: "Now gran's going to sing you a solo." And to the old Methodist tune she sang the old hymn she had so often sung before; "Come. let us anew, our journey pursue." And she sung without a break the hymn through. In her last hours she frequently said: "How lovely!" Thank God there was little, though some pain. She never doubted her immortality. Hers was a soul unclouded by any doubts. She was ever sure of God and Heaven. The love of Jesus was always real and assured. And now she is not disappointed. She takes her part in the great love feast that cannot end. And William and Sarah watch for their boys.
"One Of Them"
(SARAH died on 18 February 1912 aged 81 years. Her body was interred at Ford Park Cemetery, Devonport. Prepared by: - Errol A.Walling. 2005)