Conference held on September 14, 2024 at Society for the History of French Protestantism (SHPF)
As part of the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of François Guizot’s death, the SHPF and the Association François Guizot wanted to highlight Guizot’s importance within French Protestantism.
Descended from a family deeply rooted in Protestantism, Guizot embodied a tradition of Reformed faith characterized by a commitment to freedom of conscience, moral rigor, and education. However, under the Second Empire, French Protestantism faced a series of internal and external challenges. The rise of authoritarianism under Napoleon III, with increased state control over religious institutions, combined with the growing secularization of society, sparked tensions within Protestant communities. These communities became divided between a liberal current, more open to modern ideas and a rationalist interpretation of faith, and an evangelical current, committed to a more orthodox and conservative theology.
André Encrevé’s lecture highlights these challenges and the role that Guizot played in addressing them.
Henri Zuber,
President of Society for the History of French Protestantism
Stéphane Coste,
President of the François Guizot association
André Encrevé
professor emeritus of contemporary history, former editor-in-chief of the Bulletin de la SHPF
This lecture, entitled “François Guizot and French Protestantism under the Second Empire”, was presented by André Encrevé, Professor Emeritus of Contemporary History and former editor-in-chief of the Bulletin de la SHPF.
Read Stephane Coste’s speech, president of the Francois Guizot association
Read André Encrevé’s speech “François Guizot and French Protestantism under the Second Empire”