Conventicle

The term conventicles that; -s, -: (Latin: conventiculum, diminutive of conventus = " small gathering ", compare Convention ) generally refers to an essentially private religious gathering in a house outside of a church.

History

In the Middle Ages the term was a derogatory term for a heretic or special religious groups outside the church written. Already used in 1199 Pope Innocent III. the term occulta conventicula ( sinister meetings ) for associations in Metz which were beyond ecclesiastical control. Likewise, the Council of Vienne in 1311 condemned the Begarden as conventicula ..

Pietism

In the early modern period is denoted by conventicles - also pejoratively - domestic, organized for the purpose of edification and prayer gatherings of people of pietism that do not belong to a family and facing the church pursue more or less conscious separation goals.

The history of conventicles goes back to the action taken by Philipp Jakob Spener thought the collegia pietatis ( the meeting to common prayer ) on Community hours of prayer, worship and devotional Bible consideration.

The first known conventicles held since 1661, the Reformed theologian Theodor Undereyck that as an extraordinary court preacher in Kassel and in 1670 Pastor primarius in Bremen in 1668 promoted pietism.

While Undereyck especially at the court began its reforms, Spener gathered in Frankfurt in 1669 in his collegia the societas animarum piarum (Association of pious souls) after the service, and from 1670 in his rectory open for all classes community in which since 1675 a non-academic participants shaft gradually prevailed.

These forms of conventicles, often led by master craftsmen, old soldiers or other inspired men middle and lower layers, spread rapidly throughout Germany and beyond, such as in Scandinavia.

The conventicles came especially after Spener's death suspected of heterodoxy, so far into the 19th century (1790, Leipzig, 1726 Sweden ) official Konventikelverbote were issued reprimands and Pietist Theologians ( Christian Thomasius, Leipzig, Johann Heinrich Horb, Hamburg) carried out. In England in 1664 the Conventicle Act was enacted.

The only place in southern Germany - apart from a few royal houses - a partial establishment of Konventikelwesens in Augsburg, Esslingen, Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber or Windsheim.

Today this term is out of use.