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Mar 15
Mar 15
This Day in Church History. March 15, 1587. Death of Caspar Olevianus.
Caspar was born in 1526 at Trier, Germany. As a teenager, he studied at the University of Bourges, where he watched two friends die in a boating accident. Caspar tried to rescue his friends, almost losing his own life in the attempt. That day, Caspar dedicated his life to God.
Caspar left the University and studied theology at Geneva under John Calvin. While in Switzerland, he made friends with reformers Peter Martyr Vermigli and Theodore Beza. At age 29, Caspar returned home to Trier, becoming a school-master and preacher. For teaching the Reformed Faith, Caspar was imprisoned and exiled.
In 1561, Caspar moved to Heidelberg, where he served as a theology professor and pastor. He worked with Zacharias Ursinus to write the Heidelberg Catechism, which became the standard of religious instruction, not just among Reformed Christians in Germany and the Netherlands, but also among Anglicans in England.
Caspar died in 1587 surrounded by his family and friends. He was asked, are you sure of your salvation, as you taught others? Caspar replied with two words, "Most Certain!"
Mar 08 2026
Mar 08 2026
March 06 1689
This Day in Church History. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) Founded.
The SPCK was founded by Rev. Thomas Bray, Commissary to Maryland, and four laymen, as the first Anglican Missionary Association.
The Society's primary mission was the education of poor children, both in England and the Colonies. By 1704, the Society had 54 Schools with 2,000 scholars. By 1741, the Society had over 2,000 Schools! The SPCK's Work flourished throughout the British Empire and beyond, including India, Burma, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Japan and North America.
The Society also had thriving medical missions, training medics and building hospitals with the aim of winning the heathen's soul by caring for his body.
The SPCK pioneered Anglican literature missions, printing good and cheap books, primarily Bibles, Prayer-Books and other spiritual works. Also Fiction, Travel, Science, History and Biography.
The Society built lending libraries for the poor, and supplied printing presses to overseas missions.
The Society led the way in Anglican Bible Translation (including a Welsh Bible in 1713, 10,000 Arabic New Testaments in 1721, and Bible Literature in over 100 languages). The SPCK endowed colonial Bishoprics, established Teacher-Training Colleges, as well as Colleges for the Training of Lay-Workers to assist parish clergy in holding mission services, conducting temperance meetings, and giving classes for all ages. The SPCK is a reminder of classical Anglicanism's zeal for domestic and foreign missions!
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