Textiles of Unitarian churches from the 1600s to the mid-1800s

The dissertation focuses on the old textiles of Unitarian churches that came into the possession of the parishes from the 1600s to the mid-1800s. Drawing on 17th to 19th-century archival sources, including bishop's and dean's visitation records and parish inventory books, this thesis reconstructs the material heritage of Unitarian congregations and traces the evolution of their collections. Furthermore, the surviving textiles offer insights into congregational customs, particularly donation practices and the piety and representational needs of church members. Despite their significance, the material heritage of Unitarian congregations, especially their textiles, has received scant scholarly attention over the centuries. This dissertation aims to address this lacuna by comprehensively surveying the textile holdings of Unitarian congregations, compiling a dedicated catalogue, and analyzing relevant archival sources. The research is based on a general survey encompassing the textile collections of 32 congregations. The surveyed textiles are documented with concise art-historical descriptions and presented in a catalogue featuring corresponding photographs. The thesis also analyzes and compares the archival materials of the Homorodalmás and Torocko parishes, allowing for general conclusions regarding the acquisition and/or disappearance of their material relics.