TABLE OF
CONTENTS

VALDESE HISTORY: PRE-1893

IMPORTANT
INFORMATION

This section, of course, does not deal with Valdese directly, rather of the ancestors of the people who would come to settle the town in 1893.

The settling of Valdese is closely tied to the history of the Waldensian Church. The Waldensian Church is the oldest evangelical church in existence, predating the Reformation by at least four hundred years. Its teachings were based on the truths of the gospels, the doctrine of the Trinity, the Divinity of Christ, the vicarious nature of the atonement and justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ.

The Waldenses apparently had their beginnings in the Cottian Alps of Italy from whence they sent missionaries over most of Europe. In the 13th century, there were great numbers living in southern France from the Pyrenees to the Alps. There were also settlements throughout Eastern Europe in what is now Hungary, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria, and Germany.

During the 13th century, mass persecutions began and continued intermittently for the next five hundred years. The Waldensian population was almost totally exterminated during those terrible years.

In 1532, the Waldenses met at Chanforan and voted to join the Reformation. Though their leaders had been in contact with the Reformers in Switzerland, it was not until this time that they aligned themselves with this Movement. The Waldenses contributed by translating the Bible into French. This talk was performed by Olivetan, a relative of John Calvin, and was possibly the earliest such translation. The Waldenses had translated portions of the Bible for 350 years, but had never attempted to translated the full text.

In 1685, the King of France decided it was time to purge the world of the Waldensian practices. The Duke of Savoy was given this task and sent out word that all Waldensian religious services were forbidden and that they must adhere to the practices of the Catholic Church and attend its services. When the Waldenses refused they were invaded and suffered several thousand casualties with most of the survivors being arrested. Those who recanted their faith were dispersed throughout Italy. Two thousand healthy men were sold into slavery and the remainder went to prison where many thousands died. The Swiss government intervened on behalf of the Waldenses and offered to take the prisoners into their country as exiles. About 2,700 Waldenses were allowed to leave and were escorted across the Alps to Geneva. Between 250 and 300 Waldenses perished during the journey. Though thankful for the sanctuary, the Waldenses longed for their native valleys and immediately began to plan their return.

In 1689, William of Orange became King of England. Desiring to thwart the King of France, he offered to aid the Waldenses' efforts to return to their valleys. He offered 600 soldiers and equipment for an army. On August 15, 1689, under the leadership of Henri Arnaud, a Waldensian pastor, approximately 900 Waldensian men set out to reclaim their homeland. This occasion is honored by Waldenses around the world as the Celebration of the Glorious Return and in Valdese by an annual festival.

The army persevered through difficult times during their return and, giving much credit to God, eventually overtook their enemies and reclaimed their home valleys. About this time, the Duke of Savoy had turned against the French King and made peace with the Waldenses. They were permitted to return to their homes and were never persecuted again with military force, although they would face political persecutions.

February 17, 1848 marked the beginning of a better time for the Waldensian Church. Charles Albert, King of Sardinia, issued a proclamation granting the Waldenses certain religious and civil liberties. This action ushered in a period of peace and relative prosperity for the people. They grew in population to the point that it became difficult to have enough land to provide a living for their growing families. This caused many to make plans to leave their native valleys and emigrate to other parts of the world. Groups went to South Africa, South America, and the United States. One group came to settle, and found, the town of Valdese on May 29, 1893.