A Békés Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 23. (Békéscsaba, 2002)
Németh Csaba: The establishment of the evangelical parish in Gyula
Németh Csaba The establishment of the evangelical parish in Gyula - Csaba Németh Résumé The citizens of Gyula backed the Reformation at the turn of the 1520-ies and 30-ies. It became the intellectual center of the Trans-Tisza (a region of Hungary to be found to the east from the „Tisza" river) evangelical church district. But the regional priesthood subscribed to the Helvetian creed. Since the Turkish occupation the cure of souls of the Gyula evangelists was done by the reformed clergymen. The establishment of the independent church district was urged on by the leaders of the Arad-Békés County Church District. By the aid of a Hungarian language congregation they wanted to prove the irrationality of the charge of pan-slavism; and also against the peasant movement, lead by András Achim L. they could reckon on the support of the parish governed mainly by state officials. The establishment of the Gyula Evangelical Branch Church was declared on the convocation on 03 rd June 1907. The parish had 424 members. They held five church services annually, on the more important feasts. They held their church occasions in the state elementary school. The Békéscsaba clergymen were taken care of the faithfuls of the branch church. The establishment of the independent parish was declared on 17 th August 1913. In their opininon Gyula could become the care center of the evangelists living scattered in the surrounding, Arad and Bihar County settlements. But they did not become independent till the end of the world war. The world war caused serious shocks. After the war the major part of the members of the congregation - regarding the state in 1907 -was exchanged. The parish had to be reorganized. Németh Csaba Erkel Ferenc Múzeum H-5700 Gyula, Kossuth L. u. 17. E-mail: nemcsab@mailbox.hu 520
