FAREL, WILLIAM [GUILLAUME]

(1489-1565) French Reformer called "the venturesome, big-voiced, red-bearded little evangelist." When the persecution of Protestants in France forced him to flee in 1523, he became a leader of a band of reformers preaching mainly in French-speaking Switzerland, and ending up in Geneva in 1530s. Farel's preaching had brought an end to Catholic masses, but the town's Protestantism rested on political hostility to the bishop, not doctrinal convictions. Thus he convinced Calvin to assist him. Geneva's city councils offered Calvin a position as "Professor of Sacred Scriptures." Calvin stayed for 2 years and was ordered to leave. Calvin went to Strasbourg and later moved back to Geneva, but Farel moved to Neuchƒtel and reached other French towns.