The formation and difficulties of a reformed parish in a village in the great hungarian plain (Lajosmizse, 1877–1940)

Abstract

The study explores the establishment of a Protestant (Reformed) community in Lajosmizse, a village in Pest-Pilis-Solt-Kiskun county, located about 65 kilometres southeast of Budapest. Lajosmizse was established in 1877, when it separated from its mother town of Jászberény, which acquired the three areas (Bene, Lajos, Mizse) known as the Puszta during the 1745 “Jászkun Redemption.” Two factors played a decisive role in the striving for independence: one was the support of the Franciscans of Jászberény for the establishment of a new Roman Catholic settlement, and the other was the resistance of wealthy farmers who essentially wanted to get rid of the double taxation by the town and the Puszta. This coalition ensured the establishment of a local regime, with wealthy redemptus and irredemptus farmers playing the leading role in the leadership of the settlement; but because they were also Catholic, the Catholic Church’s autocracy covered the entire political settlement. This concentration of political power and cultural homogeneity was enriched by the newly settled Reformed community, which, however, could feel the resentment of the Catholic majority from the very first moment, and specifically the autocracy of the priest. The main aim of the analysis is to present the organization and institutions of the Reformed micro-community, as well as their endeavour to build a church which was eventually inaugurated in 1902. I will describe in particular the conflicts that recurred from time to time between the leaders of the two churches. Some issues would seem banal nowadays, such as the fights between young men, others reflect economic problems (e.g. the purchase of land by the Reformed population, the cutting of trees), and some could be considered ideological. The latter included, for example, cases stemming from the differences between ecclesiastical and state schools, the issue of displaying crucifixes in schools and the denominational affiliation of the teachers working in state schools. From the material presented, however, it is clear that it was mostly the charismatic moral stance of the parish priest and the pastor that influenced the strained relations between the two denominations.