Church driver
The activity of a church driver was related to the strict Calvinist church discipline in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The church drivers ensured adherence to church discipline and controlled the regular church attendance of the residents of individual houses. It was also important that the Sunday rest was observed. Violations of this were punished. In addition, in Calvinist cities Jews and Catholics were not allowed to be seen on the streets on Sunday mornings.
The Baden town of Ladenburg is reported from the 16th century:
- "The strict Calvinist church discipline tried to prevent the 'common Pofel' from living out his carnival enthusiasm. A so-called church driver made sure that 'useless fellows' attended the service on Sundays. "
Others
Church driver is still a common family name in Freiburg im Breisgau today , although it is more Catholic.
Web links
- Christine Schmitt: Under a changing scepter. Ladenburg is the oldest city in Germany east of the Rhine and north of the Danube - A little church history ( Memento from November 7, 2007 in the Internet Archive ); Konradsblatt No. 49 of December 5, 2004; Karlsruhe: Badenia, 2004
Individual evidence
- ↑ Schmitt: Under a changing scepter