The "Chorgericht" (Religious Court)

The Reformed consistories were responsible for upholding morality within the congregations and tried to enforce the Ten Commandments in daily life. This engraving depicts a Chorgericht adjudicating on an illegitimate pregnancy (19th century). The judges in these courts were themselves members of the congregation.

The Chorgericht, steel engraving, 19th century, unknown artist; source: Schmidt, Heinrich Richard: Das Chorgericht von Vechigen 1572–1798, in: Ernst Grunder: Geschichte der Gemeinde Vechigen, Boll 1995, pp. 221–241, image: p. 222.