Lesson 2
The Reformation
   (Print) (Debate plattforrm)

1. Backgrounds
2. Zwingli
3. Bullinger
4. Further developments

4. Reformation and Reformers in other Swiss Towns

As already mentioned on the basis of the disputes between Zurich and the Catholic towns, the Reformation had already been able to establish itself in some other towns. In East Switzerland (Appenzell, Glarus, Graubuenden) the individual communities could decide themselves whether they wanted to introduce the Reformation. In Chur and Graubuenden it was Johann Comander (1482-1557) who above all had an effect. He is regarded as the father of the Reformation at Buenden.
Bern turned to the Reformation in 1528. Berchtold Haller (1492-1536) is to be mentioned here in the first place as responsible in his cautious but resolute way. The very construction of the character of the Bern Church originates from him. In 1529 Basel, Scahffhausen and St. Gallen followed. In Basel Johannes Oecolampadius (1482-1531) is to be singled out as significant. He was professor for biblical theology from 1523 and then from 1529 pastor in Basel’s Cathedral and spokesman for the clergy. His theological lifework with introductory studies on the Lord’s Supper and on the Church service still awaits thorough research. Oecolampadius’ successor was Oswald Myconius (1488-1552), who was effective as mediator and was actively in charge of both Basel Confessions (1532 and 1536; the second was at the same time the first Helvetic Confession). Myconius also wrote the first biography of Zwingli in 1532 with the title “De domini Huldrichi Zuinglii fortissimi herois ac theologi doctissimi vita et obitu” (Life and death of the courageous hero and learned theologian Huldrych Zwingli).
In Schaffhausen Sebastian Hofmeister (1476-1533), who indeed had to leave Schaffhausen in 1526, and Erasmus Ritter (died 1546), who later held office in Bern, were in charge. In St. Gallen it was above all the mayor Joachim Vadian (1483/84-1551) who promoted the Reformation, supported by Johannes Kessler (1502/03-1574), who also took over the leadership of the Reformation after Vadian’s death.

The Reformation in all these places goes back to connections with Zwingli. It cannot be said that Zwingli was the sole Reformer of the Swiss Confederation, but it is nevertheless true that the whole of the Swiss Reformation had adopted Zwingli’s insights (among other things, with respect to the Lord’s Supper). The Reformed Churches outside the current Switzerland, with the exception of two towns near Memmingen (Herbishofen and Groenenbach, which belong to the dominion of Pappenheim), do not go back directly to Zwingli.