Valérand Poullain

Valérand Poullain (also: Valerandus Polanus or Valerandus Pollanus; * 1520 in Lille, † beginning in 1558 in Frankfurt am Main ) was a Reformed clergyman of the Reformation period.

Life and work

Poullain studied at the University of Louvain, where he earned the rank of Magister. In 1540 he was ordained a priest. 1543 he joined the Reformed preachers to Strasbourg in 1547 to Glastonbury. While the Catholic restoration under Queen Mary I, he had to leave England in 1553 end. About Antwerp, he got together with 24 Walloon refugee families beginning in 1554 to Frankfurt am Main, where he was their spokesman. On March 16, 1554 he addressed a petition to be admitted to the Council of the city, decided on 18 March to intercede the Patrician John of Glauburg: sol you Inen wilfaren and Sy gots to include in the name. This day marks the founding date of the French-reformed church in Frankfurt.

Poullain wrote a Municipal Code, which was approved and printed by the Council as owner of church government. On 8 May 1554 the Council established the French refugees vacant for 12 years White Frauenkirche for their worship available.

Poullain was as sharp-tongued polemicist who got into questions of liturgy and confession, especially in the doctrine of the Eucharist, now in conflict with the Lutheran preachers of the city, especially with Hartmann Beyer. Even in parts of his community, he then lost to support. Poullain was asked in September 1556 before an arbitral tribunal who led with his friend John Calvin in the house of patrician Claus Bromm. However, the attempt at conciliation was inconclusive.

On October 20, 1556 Poullain gave up his preacher office, but remained in Frankfurt. With numerous theological polemics, including in May 1557 the Antidotus, and translations, he reached further into the confessional strife between the prevailing Lutherans and the Reformed immigrants. His exact date of death is unknown.