Brussels Protestant Church
Encyclopedia
Brussels Protestant Church (Eglise Protestante de Bruxelles) is a Brussels
-based Protestant Christian congregation formally constituted in 1804 and whose roots go back to the Protestant Reformation
of the 16th century.
The origins of Protestant Christianity in Brussels go back to before 1523 when Henri Voes and Jean Van Esschen were martyred at Brussels for their new-found Protestant faith. In 1535 English Bible translator, William Tyndale
, was captured at Antwerp and burnt at the stake in Vilvorde (near Brussels). The Belgian Protestant churches were subjected to intense persecution during the Counter-Reformation
and as a result Protestants met in private.
From 1656 churches were again constituted and in 1781 obtained a measure of freedom under Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
.
From 1783 to 1789 a Protestant group met in rue Ducale led by a Genevan pastor, Isaac Salomon Anspach
.
When in 1802 the French Republic granted freedom of religion, the Lutheran and Reformed Christians of the city petitioned the authorities to be able to conduct services freely. The two confessions were granted use of a single building, the court chapel on Place du Musée, designated 'Protestant church' and were to be served by a single minister. Napoleon subsequently confirmed the congregation's right to assemble in 1804.
Jean-Pierre Charlier (1775–1822) served as the first pastor 1804-1822, holding services in French and German on alternate weeks. After a one-year vacancy Genevan preacher of Le Réveil, Merle D'Aubigne, was called as pastor and served 1823-1830. One of the members of d'Aubigne's congregation strongly influenced by his pastor was Groen van Prinsterer, who become a leading light in the Dutch Het Réveil.
Following the Battle of Waterloo
(1815) Brussels had become the southern capital of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
under the House of Nassau-Orange. In 1816 the congregation had taken the name Eglise chrétienne protestante française-allemande de Bruxelles
(the Franco-German Protestant Christian Church of Brussels). Its services were attended by Crown Prince William
of the House of Orange-Nassau, who represented the monarchy in Brussels. In 1824 English-language Anglican services were also being held in the church on Place du Musée, led by Thomas Price.
In 1816 Crown Prince William
decreed that the Temple des Augustins
be made available as a second place of Protestant worship in the city and the 'Dutch Church'
(Nederlandse Gemeente) met there until 1830.
When pastor D'Aubigné left in the wake of the Belgian revolution
and independence of 1830, Jonathan de Visme (minister at Dour, Mons and Paturages), served as interim moderator and eventually Chrétien-Henri Vent was appointed as successor, serving until his death 1844. His preaching was said to be "rationalistic" and "cool and academic" at a time when many longed for "evangelical, saving, pious" preaching. During his ministry in 1834 a group left the church to form what would become the Temple de l'Observatoire
.
In 1830 the Belgian state
officially recognised the church as L'Eglise Protestante de Bruxelles (Brussels Protestant Church) a name it bears to the present day. Its services were attended by Leopold I of Belgium
, also a Protestant.
In 1844 Ernest-Henri Vent, son of Chrétien-Henri, was appointed minister of the French-speaking congregation (serving until 1867), while Friedrich Wilhelm Becker was entrusted with ministry to the German-speakers (serving until 1869). During this time the Franco-German church engaged in lots of social work, founding a Diakonie, an orphanage and offering advice to the general public.
List of subsequent pastors serving the congregation (up until 2002):
1867-1892 Emile Rochedieu
1869-1889 Karl Herbst
1889-1892 A. Beyerhaus
1892-1932 Paul Rochedieu
1905-1918 E. Koenigs
1929-1932 Matthieu Schyns
1932-1937 Ch. Ed. Reymond
1932-1968 Matthieu Schyns
1937-1938 M. Pfender
1938-1940 Georges Gander
1941-1945 Henri Serex
1946-1953 Ch.-A. Marguerat
1964-2004 Léon-Alexis Rocteur
1970-1979 Fritz Hoyois
1983-1988 Jacques Hostetter
1992-2002 Jean-Loup Seban
The last German-speaking pastor was E. Koenigs; the post was discontinued in 1919, following World War I.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
-based Protestant Christian congregation formally constituted in 1804 and whose roots go back to the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
of the 16th century.
The origins of Protestant Christianity in Brussels go back to before 1523 when Henri Voes and Jean Van Esschen were martyred at Brussels for their new-found Protestant faith. In 1535 English Bible translator, William Tyndale
William Tyndale
William Tyndale was an English scholar and translator who became a leading figure in Protestant reformism towards the end of his life. He was influenced by the work of Desiderius Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and by Martin Luther...
, was captured at Antwerp and burnt at the stake in Vilvorde (near Brussels). The Belgian Protestant churches were subjected to intense persecution during the Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
and as a result Protestants met in private.
From 1656 churches were again constituted and in 1781 obtained a measure of freedom under Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph II was Holy Roman Emperor from 1765 to 1790 and ruler of the Habsburg lands from 1780 to 1790. He was the eldest son of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I...
.
From 1783 to 1789 a Protestant group met in rue Ducale led by a Genevan pastor, Isaac Salomon Anspach
Anspach
Anspach may refer to:In places:* Neu-Anspach, Hesse, Germany* The former name of Ansbach, Bavaria, GermanyIn people:* Henri Anspach , Belgian épée and foil fencer* Paul Anspach , Belgian épée and foil fencer...
.
When in 1802 the French Republic granted freedom of religion, the Lutheran and Reformed Christians of the city petitioned the authorities to be able to conduct services freely. The two confessions were granted use of a single building, the court chapel on Place du Musée, designated 'Protestant church' and were to be served by a single minister. Napoleon subsequently confirmed the congregation's right to assemble in 1804.
Jean-Pierre Charlier (1775–1822) served as the first pastor 1804-1822, holding services in French and German on alternate weeks. After a one-year vacancy Genevan preacher of Le Réveil, Merle D'Aubigne, was called as pastor and served 1823-1830. One of the members of d'Aubigne's congregation strongly influenced by his pastor was Groen van Prinsterer, who become a leading light in the Dutch Het Réveil.
Following the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
(1815) Brussels had become the southern capital of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands
United Kingdom of the Netherlands is the unofficial name used to refer to Kingdom of the Netherlands during the period after it was first created from part of the First French Empire and before the new kingdom of Belgium split out in 1830...
under the House of Nassau-Orange. In 1816 the congregation had taken the name Eglise chrétienne protestante française-allemande de Bruxelles
Eglise chrétienne protestante française-allemande de Bruxelles
The Eglise chrétienne protestante française-allemande de Bruxelles was the official name of Brussels Protestant Church from 1816-1830....
(the Franco-German Protestant Christian Church of Brussels). Its services were attended by Crown Prince William
William II of the Netherlands
William II was King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg from 7 October 1840 until his death in 1849.- Early life and education :...
of the House of Orange-Nassau, who represented the monarchy in Brussels. In 1824 English-language Anglican services were also being held in the church on Place du Musée, led by Thomas Price.
In 1816 Crown Prince William
William II of the Netherlands
William II was King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Duke of Limburg from 7 October 1840 until his death in 1849.- Early life and education :...
decreed that the Temple des Augustins
Temple des Augustins
The Temple des Augustins in Brussels was a baroque-style church designed by the architect Jacob Franquart and erected 1621-1642...
be made available as a second place of Protestant worship in the city and the 'Dutch Church'
Protestantse Kerk Brussel
The Dutch-speaking Brussels Protestant Church or 'Dutch Church' was formally constituted in 1816 during the period when Belgium came under the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau....
(Nederlandse Gemeente) met there until 1830.
When pastor D'Aubigné left in the wake of the Belgian revolution
Belgian Revolution
The Belgian Revolution was the conflict which led to the secession of the Southern provinces from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands and established an independent Kingdom of Belgium....
and independence of 1830, Jonathan de Visme (minister at Dour, Mons and Paturages), served as interim moderator and eventually Chrétien-Henri Vent was appointed as successor, serving until his death 1844. His preaching was said to be "rationalistic" and "cool and academic" at a time when many longed for "evangelical, saving, pious" preaching. During his ministry in 1834 a group left the church to form what would become the Temple de l'Observatoire
Temple de l'Observatoire
The Temple de l'Observatoire was a Protestant Christian church in Brussels, started in 1834 when a group left Brussels Protestant Church and called French Methodist missionary, Philippe Boucher , to serve as their pastor...
.
In 1830 the Belgian state
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
officially recognised the church as L'Eglise Protestante de Bruxelles (Brussels Protestant Church) a name it bears to the present day. Its services were attended by Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I of Belgium
Leopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
, also a Protestant.
In 1844 Ernest-Henri Vent, son of Chrétien-Henri, was appointed minister of the French-speaking congregation (serving until 1867), while Friedrich Wilhelm Becker was entrusted with ministry to the German-speakers (serving until 1869). During this time the Franco-German church engaged in lots of social work, founding a Diakonie, an orphanage and offering advice to the general public.
List of subsequent pastors serving the congregation (up until 2002):
1867-1892 Emile Rochedieu
1869-1889 Karl Herbst
1889-1892 A. Beyerhaus
1892-1932 Paul Rochedieu
1905-1918 E. Koenigs
1929-1932 Matthieu Schyns
1932-1937 Ch. Ed. Reymond
1932-1968 Matthieu Schyns
1937-1938 M. Pfender
1938-1940 Georges Gander
1941-1945 Henri Serex
1946-1953 Ch.-A. Marguerat
1964-2004 Léon-Alexis Rocteur
1970-1979 Fritz Hoyois
1983-1988 Jacques Hostetter
1992-2002 Jean-Loup Seban
The last German-speaking pastor was E. Koenigs; the post was discontinued in 1919, following World War I.