This week in Christian history: ‘Mother of Methodism’ born; Edict of St. Germain; Book of Common Prayer

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, January 17, 2021

Edict of St. Germain issued – Jan. 17, 1562

Catherine de’ Medici (1519-1589), an Italian noblewoman who served as queen consort and regent of France. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Catherine de Medici of France issued the Edict of St. Germain, which was aimed at creating tolerance for the Catholic nation’s Protestant minority.

French Protestants, commonly known as Huguenots, were granted the freedom of conscience and the right to private worship, as well as allowing the creation of Protestant synods.

Unfortunately, according to World Heritage Encyclopedia, the edict struggled to be properly implemented and soon after, war between Catholics and Huguenots broke out.

“The crown found it hard to register the edict, however, a process which required the Parlement of Paris ratifying the edict and adding it to the statutes,” noted the Encyclopedia.

“The judges of the Parlement were allowed to make remonstrances to the crown and specify areas where the new law conflicted with the old before it was published, and they made the process protracted enough that it was not registered until after the Massacre of Vassy on March 1, 1562, which initiated the first religious war.”