HUGUENOTS-WALLOONS-EUROPE-L Archives

From: "Andrea Vogel" <>
Subject: [H-W-E] Livre des Tésmoignages: Threadneedle St. Church, London
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 10:59:26 -0800

In view of past discussion on the list regarding the Threadneedle Street
Church in London, ENG, the following info might be of interest/use for
those researchers who think their ancestors may have been in London (or even
anywhere in England) during the time period mentioned below. In my
experience, there was movement of people between Huguenots/Walloon
communities in England. So my advice is -- check everywhere.
The Hug. Society of London has published the Livre des Tésmoignages de
l'Église de Threadneedle Street, 1669-1789, transcribed and edited for the
Society by William and Susan Minet (vol. 21). These records are also on LDS
film # 0962137.
Some of you may be asking, at this point, what are "tésmoignages"? Here
is a quote from the Foreword of the publication --
"Protection was one of the chief needs of the Reformed Churches, and
protection in a double sense. They had to see that none were admitted to
membership who did not bring with them some guarantee that they were of the
faith: for in the early days in France, the danger from spies and informers
was great; and secondly, the maintenance of the true faith demanded an
assurance that every candidate for admission held that faith in all its
purity. To ensure these ends, no candidate was admitted a member of any
congregation unless they brought with them a Témoignage. In its simplest
form, the Témoignage was a certificate from the church from which the
postulant came; but under the stress of emigration, such a Témoignage was
often impossible, and the necessary assurance that the candidate was worthy
of acceptance took many different forms...."
In the case of a person or family having no Témoignage, the Foreword
then goes on to explain that some were admitted because they were vouched
for by someone else who was already a member of the congregation. Others who
knew no one who could vouch for them were admitted on compassionate grounds,
after their stories were heard. And the children of members were admitted
when they reached a certain age.
More on this resource in future posts. Best wishes, Andrea

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• [H-W-E] Livre des Tésmoignages: Threadneedle St. Church, London by "Andrea Vogel" <>