Johannes de Watteville › Hymnals

Johannes de Watteville, was the son-in-law of Nicholas Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf, married to Zinzendorf's daughter Benigna. He was a Moravian bishop in Germany. He originated the Christingle tradition in 1747 when he gave each child in his church a lighted candle wrapped in a red ribbon with a prayer that said "Lord Jesus, kindle a flame in these dear children's hearts."

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Watteville, Johannes von, originally Johann Michael Langguth, but adopted by F. von Watteville, b. Oct. 18, 1718, at Walschleben near Erfurt. Member of the Unity's Direction, 1764. d. Oct. li, 1788, at Gnadenfrei, Silesia.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)