Location: Dutch Church, Austin Friars, London EC2N 2EJ
Date: 5-7 April, 2000

Description: In 1550 King Edward VI granted to the 'strangers' the right to hold Reformed services in England. Austin Friars church in the City of London was given to the Dutch and French speakers for their worship, but the latter moved that year to St Anthony's Threadneedle Street, which foundation survives in the French Protestant Church, Soho Square. Dutch Protestants worship in Austin Friars to this day. On 5-7 April 2000, the Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland, in collaboration with the Jewish Historical Society of England and other appropriate bodies, will host an international conference to mark the 450th anniversary of Edward VI's charter. The conference will be held in the Dutch Church, Austin Friars. Its theme is to be seen in the title: From Strangers to Citizens. Dutch, Flemish, French, Germans, Italians, Jews, Walloons, all found a refuge in Britain in the post-Reformation period and beyond, as did smaller, significant groups such as the Moravians and Waldensians. Some used the British Isles as a springboard for migration across the seas and we plan to include papers on the integration of all these groups.

If you are interested in participating and would like to be kept informed of developments in this conference, please contact us at the e-mail address: c.littleton@history.bbk.ac.uk, giving information on your postal and e-mail address. We plan to send those who respond more information about the conference in a few months' time.