Waldensians Issue 22 | 1989 Purchase this issue

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There is debate today among historians of Waldensianism as to whether one epoch-making meeting really took place in the little hamlet of Chanforan, located in the vicinity of Angrogna in the Piedmont Alps. Traditionally it has been held—as is the position expressed in this issue by Dr. Bouchard—that a crucial meeting took place at Chanforan at which the Waldensians more or less decided to accept William Farel’s position concerning their joining the reform movement, and that they produced the Confession printed below; also that a translation of the Bible into French was commissioned at that time. A recent scholarly study by Oxford-trained historian Euon Cameron has argued that, according to the best information we have today, the best we can say is that several meetings took place at different places around the time, and that the document below was produced at one of these meetings held near Angrogna. Cameron suggests that the traditional view was a later imposition on the facts, and that it makes the Waldensians and the early reformers out to be far more organized and unified than is historically justifiable. Whether such a meeting took place or not, the Waldensians did become a part of the Calvinistic Reformed tradition, and have since been regarded as Protestants.

Made with general consent by the ministers and heads of Families of the Churches of the Valleys of the Piedmont, assembled in Angrogna the 12th of September of the Year 1532.

The following articles having been framed, read, aproved, and signed by all that were present, they with one accord did swear to believe, hold and observe them inviolably, as agreeing with the holy Scriptures, and containing the sum of the Doctrine which was taught them from father to son ...