Who Shaped the Dutch Liturgy?

Abstract

About 125 years ago, the question of whether a synod established the handed-down classical Reformed Liturgy, and if so, which one, was hotly debated. The answer to this question was important in determining which text should be considered authoritative in the church. It is now clear that the answer has only limited relevance. On the one hand, the text of the Liturgy has certainly been handed down in a broadly correct manner. On the other hand, there is a large number of variations, most of which, however, are of minor importance. The influence of church assemblies on all this is only one factor. This article, therefore, chooses to ask what factors influenced the shape of the Liturgy as it developed in the second half of the sixteenth and the first half of the seventeenth centuries. It names six factors in addition to the (both provincial and national) synods, namely the government, some prominent pastors, local church councils, printers, buyers’ tastes, and local practice.