Christian History Almanac Thursday, January 1, 2026
Jan 1, 2026
Explore pivotal moments in church history that coincide with January 1st. Discover how Zwingli's continuous preaching began in 1519 and the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1622. Learn about Thomas Jefferson's influential letter on church-state separation in 1802 and the remarkable merger of the Stone and Campbell movements in 1832. The significance of January 1 as Jesus' circumcision and its celebratory feast is also highlighted. Finally, reflect on the hopeful themes from Revelation 21 as a promise for the new year.
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Zwingli's Bold Pulpit Move
- On January 1, 1519, Huldrych Zwingli began preaching at Zurich's Grossmünster without the lectionary texts.
- He launched Lectio Continua, preaching through entire books of Scripture rather than assigned readings.
Gregorian Calendar Fixes The Year
- The Gregorian calendar standardized January 1 as New Year's Day across many countries by 1622.
- This change shifted liturgical and civil rhythms, influencing how church seasons and observances align with the year.
Jefferson's Wall Of Separation
- Thomas Jefferson's 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists framed a 'wall of separation' between church and state.
- That phrase shaped U.S. First Amendment interpretation from the 1960s onward.