Services in the Open Air - The Church of the Desert

You start the gallery with a click on further »».
You can choose individual pictures from the selection by simply clicking the picture or text.

Introduction - Meetings of the Huguenots in the Open Air (assemblies)

When the Edict of Nantes was revoked by Louis XIV in Ocotber 1685, Protestant churches were destroyed. It was forbidden to hold Protestant services anywhere. Many Huguenots left France. Some of those who remained began to hold services in the open air in secluded places the Church of the Desert was born.

Even earlier, at the time when the Netherlands were ruled by Catholic Spain and Protestant services were forbidden, "hedge" sermons had been held in Antwerp and other places in 1566. The tradition of conventicles (assemblées) has been preserved in the French Reformed Churches till the present day. (Jochen Desel)

	Protestant service in the open air Assemblée dans le désert
	Protestant service in the desert - L'Assemblée du Désert
	Clandestine baptism in the desert
	Protestant service in the desert
	Hedge sermon near Antwerp
	Protestant service in Alès
	A Protestant service in the desert, surprised by soldiers
	A Protestant service in a quarry
	Calvin's sermon in the grotto near Poitiers
	Hedge service of Reformed Protestants