Heydenreich, August Ludwig Christian

Protestant theologian, songwriter

Born: 25.07.1773 in Wiesbaden

Died: 26.09.1858 in Wiesbaden

Heydenreich began his theological studies in Erlangen in 1789, where he took his master's degree in 1792. This was followed by a period as an assistant until 1793 and administrative assignments for pastorates in Usingen, Wiesbaden and Dotzheim. Heydenreich became a negotiator in the talks that led to the union of the Lutherans and the Reformed in Idstein in 1817. The Herborn Theological Seminary subsequently appointed him second professor.

Theologically, Heydenreich was a conservative. Despite his urban background and profound education, he fought against rationalism and modern biblical criticism. Heydenreich became the Protestant Bishop of Nassau in 1837. In 1843, he published a church service order that was used until 1947 and was an expression of Heydenreich's traditional attitude.

As a poet, he provided the Nassau church hymnal of 1840 with 57 of his own songs, many of which had regional significance for a long time. His works include "Über die Unzulässigkeit der mythischen Auffassung des Historischen im NT u. im Christenthum", "Denkschrift d. ev.-theol. Seminariums zu Herborn" (1831, 1833, 1835) and "Die eigenthümlichen Lehren des Christenthums vorzüglich für praktische Geistliche rein biblisch dargestellt" (Weilburg 1833-1839).

Renkhoff, Otto: Nassauische Biographie. Kurzbiographien aus 13 Jahrhunderten, 2nd ed., Wiesbaden 1992 (Veröffentlichungen der Historischen Kommission für Nassau 39) [p. 319].

Tilly, Michael: Heydenreich, August Ludwig Christian, In: BBKL, vol. II, columns 809 f.