Book Description

J. E. Hutton's superb history follows the Moravian Church from its earliest years as one of the earliest founding Protestant denominations, over the centuries as it developed into a mature Christian fellowship. Arranged chronologically, Hutton's history takes us first to the dawn of the Protestant Reformation in the fifteenth century. He details the fraught religious and political situation during the decades prior to the eventual split with the dominant Catholic order. We are introduced to the pivotal figures of the era, such as Peter of Chelci, Gregory the Patriarch and Luke of Prague. By harnessing popular sentiment and using new technology such as the printing presses to spread the new, Protestant doctrine, the split of Christianity occurred. The political climate of Prague, Bohemia and the surrounding areas in which the Moravians lived is much-detailed. The pure, simple observance of Christ and his virtues united the Moravian movement - the essential devotion to Jesus and his gospel appealed to Christians, who yearned for community under a common banner and felt distant from the old order. Poland in particular proved a bastion for the Moravian brethren, many of whom traveled and carried their traditions abroad. Following the years of conflict and Reformation, the Moravians distinguished themselves as a highly competent Christian group. Members of the Moravian church were among the first missionaries to venture to the New World, which was the scene of chaotic conflicts between the rival colonial powers. The simple adherence to the word of Christ runs a common thread through the political and moral dramas, as the Moravians grappled with issues such as slavery and war, helping slaves in kindness. Hutton's chronicle is thorough, intensively explaining the important aspects underpinning the Moravians. The development of their customs; how they congregated; the aesthetic appearance of their churches; and their establishment of parochial education are all detailed, giving the reader a vivid and valuable history.