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Schwenkfelder Church
The Schwenkfelder Church (ⓘ) is a small American Christian body rooted in the 16th-century Protestant Reformation teachings of Caspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig (1489–1561). They originated in Silesia (at the time a part of the Holy Roman Empire, present day Poland). Due to persecution, they migrated to Saxony (Germany) then through the Netherlands and England. Six migrations brought the Schwenkfelders to America. The largest group arrived on September 22,1734.
Although followers have held the teachings of Schwenkfeld since the 16th century, Schwenkfelder Church was not formed until the 20th century, due in large part to Schwenkfeld's emphasis on inner spirituality over outward form. He also labored for a fellowship of all believers and one church.
Originally calling themselves Confessors of the Glory of Christ after Schwenkfeld's 1541 book Great Confession on the Glory of Christ, the group later became known as Schwenkfelders. These Christians often suffered persecution like slavery, prison, and fines at the hands of the government and state churches in Europe. Most of them lived in southern Germany and Lower Silesia.
By the beginning of the 18th century, the remaining Schwenkfelders lived around Harpersdorf in the Duchy of Silesia, which was part of the Bohemian Crown. As the persecution intensified around 1719–1725, they were given refuge in 1726 by Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf in Saxony. When the Elector of Saxony died in 1733, Jesuits petitioned the new ruler to return the Schwenkfelders to Harpersdorf. With their freedom in jeopardy, they decided to look to the New World; toleration was also extended to them in Silesia in 1742 by King Frederick II of Prussia.
The immigrant members of the Schwenkfelder Church brought saffron to the Americas. Schwenkfelders may have grown saffron in Europe; there is some record that at least one member of the group traded in the spice.
In 1731, a group came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and several migrations continued until 1737. The largest group, 180 Schwenkfelders, arrived on September 22, 1734. The leader of their group was George Weiss, who buried his wife Anna Meschter Weiss in Philadelphia the day after their arrival. On September 24, 1734 (two days after arriving and one day after the burial), he led the very first Day of Remembrance service. This service continues to this day each year on the Sunday closest to September 24.
In 1782, the Society of Schwenkfelders was formed, and in 1909 the Schwenkfelder Church was incorporated. Though the Schwenkfelders thereafter remained largely confined to Pennsylvania, a small number later emigrated to Waterloo County in Ontario, Canada.
The Schwenkfelder Church has remained small. As of 2024[update], there are four congregations in southeastern Pennsylvania. All of these bodies are within a fifty-mile radius of Philadelphia: one in the city itself, and one each in East Norriton, Palm, and Worcester.
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Schwenkfelder Church
The Schwenkfelder Church (ⓘ) is a small American Christian body rooted in the 16th-century Protestant Reformation teachings of Caspar Schwenkfeld von Ossig (1489–1561). They originated in Silesia (at the time a part of the Holy Roman Empire, present day Poland). Due to persecution, they migrated to Saxony (Germany) then through the Netherlands and England. Six migrations brought the Schwenkfelders to America. The largest group arrived on September 22,1734.
Although followers have held the teachings of Schwenkfeld since the 16th century, Schwenkfelder Church was not formed until the 20th century, due in large part to Schwenkfeld's emphasis on inner spirituality over outward form. He also labored for a fellowship of all believers and one church.
Originally calling themselves Confessors of the Glory of Christ after Schwenkfeld's 1541 book Great Confession on the Glory of Christ, the group later became known as Schwenkfelders. These Christians often suffered persecution like slavery, prison, and fines at the hands of the government and state churches in Europe. Most of them lived in southern Germany and Lower Silesia.
By the beginning of the 18th century, the remaining Schwenkfelders lived around Harpersdorf in the Duchy of Silesia, which was part of the Bohemian Crown. As the persecution intensified around 1719–1725, they were given refuge in 1726 by Nicolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf in Saxony. When the Elector of Saxony died in 1733, Jesuits petitioned the new ruler to return the Schwenkfelders to Harpersdorf. With their freedom in jeopardy, they decided to look to the New World; toleration was also extended to them in Silesia in 1742 by King Frederick II of Prussia.
The immigrant members of the Schwenkfelder Church brought saffron to the Americas. Schwenkfelders may have grown saffron in Europe; there is some record that at least one member of the group traded in the spice.
In 1731, a group came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and several migrations continued until 1737. The largest group, 180 Schwenkfelders, arrived on September 22, 1734. The leader of their group was George Weiss, who buried his wife Anna Meschter Weiss in Philadelphia the day after their arrival. On September 24, 1734 (two days after arriving and one day after the burial), he led the very first Day of Remembrance service. This service continues to this day each year on the Sunday closest to September 24.
In 1782, the Society of Schwenkfelders was formed, and in 1909 the Schwenkfelder Church was incorporated. Though the Schwenkfelders thereafter remained largely confined to Pennsylvania, a small number later emigrated to Waterloo County in Ontario, Canada.
The Schwenkfelder Church has remained small. As of 2024[update], there are four congregations in southeastern Pennsylvania. All of these bodies are within a fifty-mile radius of Philadelphia: one in the city itself, and one each in East Norriton, Palm, and Worcester.