Archive Maarten van Rhijn

Brief overview

Name of the archive: Archive Maarten van Rhijn

Provenance: Gifted

Dated: 1886-1964

Size: 1 archive box

Language of the materials: Dutch

Summary:

Archive of Maarten van Rhijn, church historian (1888-1966).

Collection number: UBG087

Institute: University of Groningen

Retainer: Groningen University Library

Provenance and acquisition

Biography

Maarten van Rhijn was born on April 29, 1888, in Groningen. His interest in church history was sparked as a young student when he assisted his father in documenting the epitaphs in the Martini Church in Groningen, including the memorial of Wessel Gansfort, a figure his father frequently highlighted. This early exposure led Van Rhijn to develop a deep engagement with Gansfort, culminating in his cum laude graduation from the University of Groningen on June 22, 1917, with a dissertation on the theologian.

After completing his studies in theology at Groningen, Van Rhijn served as the secretary of the Nederlandse Christen Studenten Vereeniging (NCSV) from 1916 to 1926. In 1926, he briefly worked as a pastor in Groesbeek before being appointed professor of church and dogma history at Utrecht in November of that year.

Van Rhijn primarily published works on historical figures from church and dogma history, but he also had a talent for bringing these subjects to life in his lectures and connecting with his students. His special interest lay in the patriotic church history of the nineteenth century. Additionally, he was deeply committed to studying the doctrine of justification, as he believed it revealed the core of the biblical message.

Van Rhijn was a forerunner of ecumenism between Rome and the Reformation, at a time when renewed reflection on this subject had yet to begin. He treated the Roman Catholic Church with respect in his lectures and educated his students on Catholic spirituality. As a Protestant, he opposed papal authority based on arguments drawn from the Bible, though he spoke positively about later popes.

As a theologian, Van Rhijn also dedicated himself rigorously to the study of the New Testament. His work, Gedachten en Gestalten uit de Evangeliën, in which he examines various passages from the Gospels, gained widespread recognition.

Van Rhijn made a lasting contribution to the spiritual formation of many future ministers. Through his life and work, the ethical side of the nineteenth-century Réveil movement found a valuable continuation.

Future additions

No future additions to the archive are expected.

Contents and collation

The collection includes sermons, lecture notes, correspondence.

Instructions for users of the archive

Accessibility

The archive is accessible for research purposes. To look at the archive, a University Library Access Pass is required.

Limitations to use

The materials in this archive are available for viewing only. They cannot be borrowed. When consulting these materials, the rules set out in the Reglement voor de gebruikers van de Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Groningen apply. Reproductions, insofar as they are allowed, are to be made in line with the rules set out in the Tarieven en diensten Bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit Groningen.

Accessing the collection

An inventory of the archive is available.

Citations

When referencing (materials from) this archive, the following information must be provided in full at least once. After this, an abbreviated citation suffices.

• Archive: University Library Groningen, Archive Maarten van Rhijn

• Individual items:  Groningen, UB, van Rhijn, Maarten

Requests

Materials from this collection can be requested by sending an email to Special Collections Department or through Smartcat, the online library catalogue.