The French Church (Berlin)

 church, christianity, protestantism

The French Church in Berlin (Huguenot Church) was founded in 1672 by French Reformed Christians living in Berlin as religious refugees or members of the court. When in 1685 the Edict of Potsdam promised privileged reception in Brandemburg for all religious refugees from France, their number grew to about 6,000, i.e. about one third of the Berlin population in 1700.
Other Huguenots settled in nearby cities and villages, especily in the Uckermark, north of Berlin. In all, some 20,000 refugees found their way to Brandenburg. More about their history can be learned in the Huguenot Museum.
Today the French Church in Berlin is a member of the Reformed synode of the Protestant Church in Berlin-Brandenburg.
Its members live throughout Berlin and beyond. They gather for services and other church activities here. Since 1830 the main language has been German. The creed and church order are still based of the Reformed Church of France (1559), which were greatly influenced by Jean Calvin.
The "Communauté protestante francophone de Berlin et environs" has become part of the French Church in Berlin since the departure of the French Military Chaplaincy (1954-1994) and now gathers members from different countries with French culture in Europe and Africa.