George Blaurock (1529)

April 10th, 2025
by Jon Holaday

George Blaurock was an ordained priest from Switzerland. He was really intrigued with the reformer, Ulrich Zwingli, but found himself, as many, desiring more radical reform than what was being offered. He found that in the Anabaptists. He abandoned his priestly vows, took a wife, and pursued the radical reformers movement. On the same day Felix Manz, the leader of the Mennonites, was killed, Blaurock was beaten & expelled from Zurich. He went back to Switzerland, banished from several cities, but settled somewhat taking a pastorate when Michael Keurschner was burned at the stake. Reformers at this time were trying to ring in reformers! He stood trial for his radical stand up on the basic articles we hold today such as baptism. He was tortured to extract information about the radical reform movement. He then would be burned at the stake also with his associate Hans Langegger. How dear do you hold to the most basic of Christian doctrines? Would you die for baptism? Would you die for rejecting the idea that Communion becomes the literal body of Jesus? These brave souls did so we would have freedom to believe truth now.