Coesfeld, a village located west of Münster, Germany, was during the time of the Reformation the scene of Anabaptist activities. In 1532, when the Reformation movement reached the city, Bishop Franz of Waldeck warned against the movement and banished Johann Hunse, the preacher leading the movement. The following year Jan von Leiden worked here. When Heinrich von Tongern (Slachtscaep) was on his way to Münster on the invitation of Rothmann, he stopped in Coesfeld and preached to the people on the open street. A considerable number of the Coesfeld citizens went to Münster, where the "New Jerusalem" was to be established. It is probable that the Anabaptist movement in Coesfeld did not die out with the collapse of the "New Jerusalem," but its history has not yet been investigated.

Bibliography

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 633. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

©1996-2008 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

To cite this page: