The Reformation of Community

Social Welfare and Calvinist Charity in Holland, 1572–1620

Charles H Parker author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:13th Apr '06

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The Reformation of Community cover

A comparative study of social welfare institutions in Holland during the Reformation.

The Protestant Reformation and revolt against Spain led to major struggles among civic and religious leaders over how to care for the poor in the cities of Holland. This study shows that this struggle over charity is best understood as a conflict between two distinct visions of the Christian community.By the time of the Calvinist Reformation, the cities of Holland had established a very long tradition of social provision for the poor in the civic community. Calvinists however intended to care for their own church members, who were by definition 'within the household of faith', through the deaconate, a confessional relief agency. This book examines the relationship between municipal and ecclesiastical relief agencies in the six chief cities of Holland - Dordrecht, Haarlem, Delft, Leiden, Amsterdam and Gouda - from the public establishment of the Reformed Church in 1572 to the aftermath of the Synod of Dort. The author argues that the conflict between charitable organizations reveal competing conceptions of Christian community that came to the fore as a result of the Dutch Reformation. This is the first comparative study of poor relief in Holland, which contributes to our understanding of the Reformation throughout Europe.

'The first comparative study of urban charitable agencies in Calvinist Holland … a great accomplishment.' Journal of Modern History

ISBN: 9780521025409

Dimensions: 230mm x 153mm x 17mm

Weight: 363g

244 pages