Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen

Who was Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen?

Johann Anastasius Freylinghausen was one of the most influential theologians of the pietist Halle School and a scholar and follower of August Hermann Francke, who was his father-in-law. He was the second director of the Franckenschen Stiftungen, a collection of schools for orphans.

Freylinghausen studied theology in Jena, came to know Joachim Justus Breithaupt, was won over in Halle by Francke for the pietists, and in 1695 was his assistant in ministry at St. Ulrich's Church in Halle. At his death in 1739, he was priest of St. Ulrich and director of the orphanages and boarding schools.

Freylinghausen's significance lies with his administrative accomplishment for all of the districts of hymnology. He himself wrote 44 spiritual Lieder and organized more greater collections of Lieder. His Geistreiches Gesangsbuch with 1500 old and new spiritual Lieder was known as "Freylinghausen's Songbook" abroad. From 1704, he lived to see since its publication swift, consecutive newer editions and was stamped for an entire generation for songbooks. In these songbooks were presented four spiritual Lieder by J.J. Breithaupt.