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Tuesday 17th December, 1.10pm and Sunday 22nd December, 6.30pm, Christmas Carol Services at Christ Church Spitalfields
See www.ccspitalfields.org for details.
REMEMBERING THE HUGUENOTS
In October 1685 Louis XIV signed the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. We remember the Huguenots in their plight with one of the Intercessions said by the Pastors of the Swedish, German, Swiss and Scottish Churches in London at the Thanksgiving Service on 11 April, 2013 at Christ Church Spitalfields, during the Huguenots of Spitalfields Festival.
We thank you Lord for the example of those Protestants we remember today
Who faced poverty, rejection, torture and martyrdom in the name of our Lord;
With their hope intact, their lives revealed your glory to the watching world
Almighty God receive our praise
WE WERE ASKED...
Where exactly are the boundaries of Spitalfields?
Currently between Whitechapel Road on the south, Middlesex Street through to Bishopsgate to the west. From May of 2014 the northern and eastern boundaries will extend from Quaker Street and Buxton Street taking in Weavers Ward, south of the railway line, and from Vallance Road to include part of Brady Street to the east. Councillor Helal Abbas, Spitalfields and Banglatown
Are there any Huguenots buried at Christ Church?
Members of the Chabot, Rondeau, Vaux, Dubois, Imray, Ouvry, Lefevre, Snee, Agland, Disormeaux, Saint, Marriette, and Folwell families are buried in the Church and Crypt. For a full list of family names buried in the churchyard contact charlie.spitalfields@talktalk.net. Charlie de Wet
When did Dennis Severs first open his house in Folgate Street to the public?
It was in the early 80s. If Dennis were alive today he would still be 'creating' the house as it evolved constantly when he was still with us. He painted walls, put up new curtains, bought new furniture, very much like any house owner would do in their own home. Mick Pedroli
Why was the Edict of Nantes revoked?
Louis XIV was determined that all his subjects must be of his own religion. He removed the rights of the French Protestants and tried to force their conversion to Roman Catholicism until, convinced that very few remained, he revoked the Edict of Nantes, which had given the Protestants a measure of toleration. Of approximately 700,000 Huguenots in France, about one third escaped into Protestant states. The rest became nouveaux convertis, genuine or, the majority, otherwise. Randolph Vigne
Did more refugees escape to Britain than to continental Europe?
England was a major Protestant country with established Huguenot churches in London and elsewhere, good employment and trade opportunities and encouragement from Charles II. Escape by sea was safer from the Atlantic Seaboard than eastward, overland. The replacement of the Catholic James II by the Protestant champions William III and Mary II brought even more refugees to Britain. Randolph Vigne
Why and how did the Huguenots in Britain receive financial relief?
In the 1680s Charles II and James II authorised nationwide church collections to aid the Huguenot refugees. In 1689 the Royal Bounty was set up, adding considerable funds from the Civil List of William III and Mary II, augmented by their own donations. An English Committee supervised the distributors and a French Committee (the first ever set up in this country to distribute relief on a nationwide basis to persons of all classes) the distribution. Randolph Vigne
Are the Royal Family descendants of Huguenots?
Huguenot blood runs strongly in the upper echelons of British society. Prince William and Prince Harry have descent on their father's side from families including Bourbon Montpensier, Coligny, d'Olbreuse, Rohan and Ruvigny and on their mother's side from Bourbon Vendome, Bulteel, Guinand, Navarre, Rochefoucauld, Ruvigny, Schomberg and Thellusson. Dr Robin Gwynne
What other Huguenots of Spitalfields events are being planned?
We have received some wonderful suggestions - visits to the Textile Museum in Braintree, Mount Nod in Wandsworth, Tower Hamlets Library and Archives, The Strangers' House in Norwich and screenings of Massenet's opera L'Huguenot and of the film, La Reine Margot - the story of the St Bartholomew's Day massacre. Tell us your preferences! Charlie de Wet
WE WERE TOLD...
that famous Huguenots include David Garrick, Eddie Izzard, Jon Pertwee, Reginald Bosenquet, General Peter de la Billière, Daphne du Maurier, Alexander Hamilton (on the $10 US note for founding the US bank system), Jean-Luc Godard, Richie Benaud, Warren Buffett, Samuel Courtauld, Fabergé, Le Mesurier, Piers Courage, Dolland (and Aitchison), Sir Ranulf Fiennes and also Portal, Minet (insurance) Cazenove, Cazalet. Can you help us by adding to this list?
HUGUENOT CONNECTIONS
Clandestine faith in 17th century Cévennes |
