Franz Hildebrandt facts for kids

Franz Hildebrandt (born February 20, 1909, in Berlin; died November 25, 1985, in Edinburgh) was a German pastor and a deep thinker about religion. He was first a Lutheran and later became a Methodist. Because of World War II and the Nazis, he had to leave his home country. He then lived and worked in the United Kingdom and the USA.

Early Life and Studies

Franz Hildebrandt was born in Berlin. His father, Edmund Hildebrandt, was an art professor. Franz studied theology, which is the study of religious faith and practice, in different German cities from 1926 to 1930. During his time in Berlin, he became very good friends with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, another important theologian. In 1930, Franz earned a special degree from the University of Berlin, similar to a Ph.D.. His first book was based on this important work.

Facing the Nazis

After his studies, Franz worked as a pastor for the Evangelical Church. He served in different places, including Dobrilugk and Schöneberg in Berlin. He became a pastor in Berlin on June 18, 1933.

However, things changed when the Nazis came to power in 1933. They introduced a rule called the "Aryan Paragraph" in some churches. This rule unfairly targeted people who had Jewish family members. Franz's mother was of Jewish descent, so this rule affected him. As a protest against this unfair church rule, Franz resigned from his job. He then left Germany to join his friend, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was working as a pastor in London at the time.

Helping Others and Exile

Franz returned to Germany after three months. Pastor Martin Niemöller asked him to help build an organization called the Pfarrernotbund. This group was created to help pastors who were being treated unfairly because of the "Aryan Paragraph."

Soon after, Martin Niemöller was arrested and held until the end of World War II. Franz Hildebrandt was also arrested. Luckily, his friends managed to get him released. He then left Germany again for England, this time for good. He was now in permanent exile, meaning he could not go back to his home country.

Life in England

In the years that followed, Franz helped create a German-speaking Protestant church group in Cambridge. He also worked on various church projects, including German-language broadcasts for the BBC. When World War II began, he was held for several months, but his friend, Bishop George Bell of Chichester, helped him get released. Bishop Bell was close to both Bonhoeffer and Hildebrandt, calling them "my two boys."

Even though he was close to Bishop Bell, Franz did not join the Church of England. This was because joining would have meant being ordained (officially made a priest) again by an Anglican bishop. Franz felt this would mean his original ordination in Germany was not valid, which he could not accept.

Becoming a Methodist and Later Life

Franz Hildebrandt became more and more involved with Methodism and eventually became a minister in the Methodist Church. He began to study the ideas of John Wesley, who founded Methodism. Franz believed that Wesley's ideas were a strong continuation of the Reformation theology.

He started working as a Methodist pastor in Romsey Town, south of Cambridge, in 1946. Later, he moved to Edinburgh from 1951 to 1953.

In 1943, Franz married Nancy Hope Wright. They had three children: David, Ruth, and Esther.

Franz tried for many years to find a teaching job in England. He even earned another doctorate degree from the University of Cambridge in 1941. Finally, in 1953, he was invited to teach at Drew University, a Methodist university in the USA. He taught there until 1967. During this time, he was asked to represent the World Methodist Council as an observer at the Second Vatican Council, an important meeting of the Catholic Church. He also received an honorary doctorate degree in 1960.

Returning to Scotland in 1968, Franz soon left the Methodist Church. This was because of talks about uniting with the Church of England, which again would have required him to be ordained again. He then joined the Church of Scotland, which is a Presbyterian church. He continued to be an active pastor and a chaplain in Edinburgh hospitals until he passed away in 1985. He was survived by his wife and two of his children. Nancy passed away on July 12, 2008, at the age of 89. David passed away on June 16, 2002.

Theology and Writings

Franz Hildebrandt became well known in Methodist groups because of his work on the religious ideas and hymns (church songs) of John and Charles Wesley. Unlike Eberhard Bethge, another close friend of Bonhoeffer, Franz chose not to get involved in the debates about Bonhoeffer's theology that started in the 1950s.

Audio

• Dr. Franz Hildebrandt and Methodist hymns conducted by A.G. Dreisbach (with Denville Methodist Episcopal Church Choir). English Sound Recording: Music: Hymns: LP recording: 33¹⁄₃ rpm ; 12 in., Madison, New Jersey 1959.