Ernest Gordon Rupp (1910–1986): Historian of Spiritual Experience

It was in 1945 that Rupp came to public notice when he wrote to challenge the allegation – made in a widely-distributed pamphlet by Peter F. Wiener – that Martin Luther was the spiritual ancestor of Hitler. Rupp’s reputation as a Reformation scholar was immediately established. He undertook a great deal of work on Luther, but his writing ranged much more widely. This study has a particular focus on the way in which Rupp’s historical work traced aspects of spiritual experience. For him this was a crucial theme. However, so far no essay on Rupp has had his engagement with spirituality as its subject. Although Rupp’s own experience could be looked at more closely, and his career is sketched in this article, an examination of his work as a Methodist minister and leader has not been the purpose here. Rather, it is his extensive writing which has been utilised. While further research has developed his topics, his work remains significant.