Station: [18] Huguenot Church Services

An hourglass like the one on display here was once a permanent fixture in many Reformed churches. It was nicknamed "Kanzeluhr", pulpit clock, because it was mounted on the pulpit, so the pastor could keep track of how long he'd been preaching. Otherwise, the Reformed congregations made do just a small number of utensils. Only the Bible and the psalter were essential and formed part of every service. Of course, the congregations also owned chalices and jugs as well as bread plates to celebrate Holy Communion. 
For the Huguenot refugees, their shared Reformed faith was what tied them most strongly to their new home country. After centuries of persecution, they were, for the first time ever, able to practise their religion freely and without fear in their country of refuge.
At the same time, the Huguenots lived their lives in the new communities according to their old traditions and the principles of the Huguenot church ordinance. 
When new parishes were established, the first thing to happen was for the pastor, the church elders and the deacons to be elected by the parishioners – just as they had been in France. The Huguenots had no bishops, and each parish was self-governing. 
The Christian holy days were also kept in exactly the same way as they had been in France, and as prescribed by the Bible. The only religious festivals celebrated by the Huguenots were Christmas, Easter and Whitsun.
Services were also regulated in detail by the church ordinance. The focus was on the reading from the Bible. The Huguenots had no newly composed hymns. Initially, only the biblical Psalms were allowed to be sung, and only in monophonic style. The old church ordinance even banned organ music.
Incidentally, the language of the sermon and the singing was still French. There, too, people remained true to their origins.
Four times a year, the Huguenots celebrated Holy Communion with real bread and wine. The church elders decided which members of the congregation were permitted to take communion. Sinners were not allowed. The silver medals you see on display here are called méreaux; they served as vouchers giving access to Holy Communion. Only those who had received a méreau from a church elder were welcome. 
Allez en paix et souvenez-vous des pauvres – Go in peace and remember the poor. That was how the pastor bade farewell to the congregation after each service. Charity was an important pillar of the Reformed faith. The Huguenots' social welfare work was of great benefit, especially in caring for the sick and the elderly. In Berlin, the French Hospital was established as a Huguenot foundation as early as 1686. Later, the French orphanage and the Ecole de Charité, or charity school, were added as Huguenot welfare institutions. 

Foto: © DHG