Stranger churches
Encyclopedia
Strangers' church was a term (similar in meaning to the French étranger) used by English-speaking people for independent Protestant churches established in foreign lands or by foreigners in England during the Reformation
. (The spelling stranger church is also found in texts of the period and modern scholarly works).
.
was that led by the Italian reformer, Bernardino Ochino
in 1547 (Cranmer's permission coming in January 1548). Although set up for the Italian community in London, it welcomed reformed Protestants of other nationalities as well. Cranmer made it quite clear that this was an example of how he wanted the reformation in England to proceed by forcing the traditionalist Bishop Edmund Bonner
to attend Ochino's inaugural sermon.
To the dismay of bishop of London
Nicholas Ridley
, the fully independent Stranger Churches were founded in his see in 1550 with the help of Protestant aristocrats such as William Cecil
and Katherine Brandon, Duchess of Suffolk
. On July 24, 1550, the Dutch Stranger Church
of London received a royal charter
and was incorporated by letters patent
. The congregation received a grant of the Austin or Augustinian Friars
Church off Threadneedle Street which still remains the site of the city's Dutch Protestant Church, the church itself having been destroyed in World War II
. Upon incorporation, the church was renamed the "Temple of the Lord Jesus" and given four pastors: two for the Dutch church, and two for the French/Walloon
church meeting in St. Anthony's Chapel.
Cranmer's main purposes in giving official sanction to the Churches seem to have been two-fold. Firstly, they provided a glimpse of how a reformed Protestant Church might work in England, within the episcopal system which many of the "hotter" reformers wished to abolish. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, they helped Cranmer and his allies in the suppression of heretical strains of religion, such as the anabaptists like George van Parris
, who was burned in 1551 with Laski's assistance.
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
. (The spelling stranger church is also found in texts of the period and modern scholarly works).
English Churches on the European Continent
Many English churches sprang up in the Low Countries and Rhineland during the English Reformation. The most famous of these were established by the Marian exilesMarian exiles
The Marian Exiles were English Calvinist Protestants who fled to the continent during the reign of Queen Mary I.-Exile communities:According to English historian John Strype, more than 800 Protestants fled to the continent, mainly to the Low Countries, Germany, Switzerland, and France, and joined...
.
The Stranger Churches in England
The first Stranger Church to be set up in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was that led by the Italian reformer, Bernardino Ochino
Bernardino Ochino
Bernardino Ochino was an Italian Reformer.-Biography:Bernardino Ochino was born in Siena son of the barber Domenico Ochino, and at the age of 7 or 8 around 1504 was entrusted to the Minorite order of Franciscan Friars, then from 1510 he studied medicine at Perugia.-1534, transfer to the...
in 1547 (Cranmer's permission coming in January 1548). Although set up for the Italian community in London, it welcomed reformed Protestants of other nationalities as well. Cranmer made it quite clear that this was an example of how he wanted the reformation in England to proceed by forcing the traditionalist Bishop Edmund Bonner
Edmund Bonner
Edmund Bonner , Bishop of London, was an English bishop. Initially an instrumental figure in the schism of Henry VIII from Rome, he was antagonized by the Protestant reforms introduced by Somerset and reconciled himself to Roman Catholicism...
to attend Ochino's inaugural sermon.
To the dismay of bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
Nicholas Ridley
Nicholas Ridley (martyr)
Nicholas Ridley was an English Bishop of London. Ridley was burned at the stake, as one of the Oxford Martyrs, during the Marian Persecutions, for his teachings and his support of Lady Jane Grey...
, the fully independent Stranger Churches were founded in his see in 1550 with the help of Protestant aristocrats such as William Cecil
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
and Katherine Brandon, Duchess of Suffolk
Catherine Willoughby
Catherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk, suo jure 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby , was an English noblewoman living at the royal courts of King Henry VIII, King Edward VI and later, Queen Elizabeth I...
. On July 24, 1550, the Dutch Stranger Church
Dutch Church, Austin Friars
The Dutch Church is a familiar landmark within Broad Street Ward, in the City of London. The original church was a monastic foundation and the Dutch connection goes back to 1550 when King Edward VI gave Protestant refugees from the Netherlands permission to establish their own parish...
of London received a royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
and was incorporated by letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
. The congregation received a grant of the Austin or Augustinian Friars
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
Church off Threadneedle Street which still remains the site of the city's Dutch Protestant Church, the church itself having been destroyed in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upon incorporation, the church was renamed the "Temple of the Lord Jesus" and given four pastors: two for the Dutch church, and two for the French/Walloon
Walloons
Walloons are a French-speaking people who live in Belgium, principally in Wallonia. Walloons are a distinctive community within Belgium, important historical and anthropological criteria bind Walloons to the French people. More generally, the term also refers to the inhabitants of the Walloon...
church meeting in St. Anthony's Chapel.
Cranmer's main purposes in giving official sanction to the Churches seem to have been two-fold. Firstly, they provided a glimpse of how a reformed Protestant Church might work in England, within the episcopal system which many of the "hotter" reformers wished to abolish. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, they helped Cranmer and his allies in the suppression of heretical strains of religion, such as the anabaptists like George van Parris
George van Parris
George van Parris was a Dutch Arian, who was burnt at the stake in London by his fellow Protestants.George van Parris was a member of the Stranger's Church congregation, and his excommunication and subsequent burning were done with the agreement of the pastor of the congregation, John Lasco...
, who was burned in 1551 with Laski's assistance.
Members of London's Dutch Stranger Church
- John a LascoJan LaskiJan Łaski, John Laski, Johannes Alasco, John a Lasco , was a Polish Protestant evangelical reformer. It is owing to his influential work in England Jan Łaski, John Laski, Johannes Alasco, John a Lasco (1499 – 8 January 1560), was a Polish Protestant evangelical reformer. It is owing to his...
, first superintendent of the church - Steven MierdmanSteven MierdmanSteven Mierdman was among the most important Dutch printers of Reformation books.Mierdman, also known as Stephen Mierdman, Steven Mierdmans, Stephen Myerdmann, and Steven Mierman, first printed in Antwerp from 1542-c. 1546, becoming a freeman of the city in November 1543...
, printer (pseud. Niclaes van Oldenborch), joined the church in 1550. - Justus Velsius, dissident, joined the church in 1563 until expelled from the kingdom.
See also
- Marian exilesMarian exilesThe Marian Exiles were English Calvinist Protestants who fled to the continent during the reign of Queen Mary I.-Exile communities:According to English historian John Strype, more than 800 Protestants fled to the continent, mainly to the Low Countries, Germany, Switzerland, and France, and joined...
- English Reformed Church, AmsterdamEnglish Reformed Church, AmsterdamThe English Reformed Church is one of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam, situated in the centre of the city. It is home to an English-speaking congregation which is affiliated to the Church of Scotland and to the Protestant Church in the Netherlands...
- Dutch Church, Austin FriarsDutch Church, Austin FriarsThe Dutch Church is a familiar landmark within Broad Street Ward, in the City of London. The original church was a monastic foundation and the Dutch connection goes back to 1550 when King Edward VI gave Protestant refugees from the Netherlands permission to establish their own parish...
Further reading
- Diarmaid MacCullochDiarmaid MacCullochDiarmaid Ninian John MacCulloch FBA, FSA, FR Hist S is Professor of the History of the Church at the University of Oxford and Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford...
, Thomas Cranmer (London, 1996) - Diarmaid MacCullochDiarmaid MacCullochDiarmaid Ninian John MacCulloch FBA, FSA, FR Hist S is Professor of the History of the Church at the University of Oxford and Fellow of St Cross College, Oxford...
, Tudor Church Militant