Traditions
R

Tradition · Protestant

Reformed and Presbyterian Churches

Followersabout 80 millionin World Communion of Reformed Churches members · 2026How countedSwiss Reformation1520s–1530sGrew from Zwingli’s Zurich reform and Calvin’s work in Geneva. The workbook’s 1536 is the year of Calvin’s first Institutes.Read the historyCompare with another tradition

Churches of the Reformation shaped by Zwingli in Zurich and Calvin in Geneva.

Relationships with other traditions

How it took shape

Key timeline

View full timeline (5)
  1. 1519

    Zwingli in Zurich

    Huldrych Zwingli begins preaching reform.

  2. 1536

    Calvin’s Institutes

    First edition published; Calvin arrives in Geneva the same year.

  3. 1560

    Scottish Reformation

    The Scots Confession; John Knox’s reform leads to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

  4. 1618–1619

    Synod of Dort

    Defines Reformed teaching on predestination against the Remonstrants.

Classification
Protestant. Churches of the Swiss and Scottish Reformations, associated with Zwingli, Calvin and Knox.
What this entry covers
A family of independent churches. Reformed, Presbyterian, Congregational and United churches of the Swiss and Scottish Reformations.
Swiss Reformation
1520s–1530s. Grew from Zwingli’s Zurich reform and Calvin’s work in Geneva. The workbook’s 1536 is the year of Calvin’s first Institutes.

Relationships with other traditions

Reform1519–1560A gradual process

The Swiss and Scottish Reformations

Reformed and Presbyterian ChurchesCatholic Church

Reform: A movement to reform the Western church that, in the 16th century, produced churches independent of Rome.

Reform in Zurich under Zwingli (from 1519), in Geneva under Calvin (from 1536) and in Scotland under Knox (1560) produced churches independent of Rome, governed by elders and synods.
3 sources

The New Catholic Encyclopedia notes that Zwingli’s evangelical programme was already active in Zurich by 1516; 1519 is the year he began as preacher at the Grossmünster.

Later developments
Today as of October 2026

Separate, in formal dialogue

Not in communion; the Reformed world communion shares in the Joint Declaration on Justification.
Source

Agreement recordCompare Reformed and Presbyterian Churches and Catholic Church

Common inheritance1529–1973A gradual process

Two churches of the Reformation

LutheranismReformed and Presbyterian Churches

Common inheritance: Traditions with a shared heritage and no single act of separation between them.

Both come from the Magisterial Reformation and share its emphasis on Scripture and justification by faith, but divided early over the Lord's Supper: Luther and Zwingli failed to agree at Marburg in 1529.
4 sources
Later developments
Today as of October 2026

Varies by church or region

Full church fellowship among the 96 churches of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe; elsewhere relations differ by church.
Source

Agreement recordAgreement recordCompare Reformed and Presbyterian Churches and Lutheranism

Explained on other pages

Full timeline

  1. 1519

    Zwingli in Zurich

    Huldrych Zwingli begins preaching reform.

    Explained below: The Swiss and Scottish Reformations

  2. 1536

    Calvin’s Institutes

    First edition published; Calvin arrives in Geneva the same year.

  3. 1560

    Scottish Reformation

    The Scots Confession; John Knox’s reform leads to the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

  4. 1618–1619

    Synod of Dort

    Defines Reformed teaching on predestination against the Remonstrants.

  5. 1973

    Leuenberg Agreement

    Lutheran, Reformed and United churches in Europe declare pulpit and table fellowship; 96 churches now belong to the communion formed on this basis.

    Explained below: Two churches of the Reformation

Positions used in comparisons

Short, sourced statements that the Atlas compares across traditions. Where a tradition has no single teaching authority, the record says whose statement it follows.

God
One God in three persons (Westminster Confession, ch. 2).
Source

Westminster Confession (Presbyterian standard); Continental Reformed churches use the Heidelberg Catechism and other confessions.

Christ
Two whole natures, divine and human, joined in one person.
Source

Westminster Confession.

Creeds and councils
Synods and councils may err; they are a help to faith, not its rule.
Source

Westminster Confession.

Scripture and authority
The supreme judge in all controversies is the Holy Spirit speaking in Scripture.
Source

Westminster Confession.

Salvation and grace
Justification by faith; God's eternal decree of election to life.
2 sources

Westminster Confession. Not all Reformed churches hold 'double predestination'.

Sacraments and ordinances
Two sacraments; in the Supper believers 'spiritually receive and feed upon Christ crucified'; infants of believing parents are baptised.
Source

Westminster Confession.

Church and ministry
Church officers distinct from civil government; synods and councils govern.
Source

Provisional: broadly supported, but awaiting fuller checking.

Westminster Confession. Congregational and some United churches are governed differently.

Compare these positions with another tradition

  • Word and sacrament

    Preaching is central; two sacraments; historically, psalm singing and plain churches.
    Source

    Preaching and sacraments checked; psalm singing and plain churches are not sourced.

    Provisional: broadly supported, but awaiting fuller checking.

The follower figure

about 80 million in World Communion of Reformed Churches members

What is counted
Members of churches affiliated to a world body
As of
undated WCC profile, accessed October 2026
Reported by
World Council of Churches profile of the WCRC
Type
Estimate
Coverage
230 WCRC member churches in 108 countries. Reformed churches outside the WCRC are not included, and member churches count differently.
This entry is
A family of independent churches. Reformed, Presbyterian, Congregational and United churches of the Swiss and Scottish Reformations.
The WCRC brings together about 80 million Reformed Christians in 230 member churches.
Source

Replaces the starting figure. Workbook: 75,000,000 (no source or date).

Figures from different traditions measure different things and must not be added together or ranked against each other.

About the image · Editorial placeholder

Editorial initial. Reformed churches historically avoided religious images; individual churches have their own emblems.

Editorial status

Editorial draft. Built from the starting workbook with editorial corrections and framing. It has not yet been checked against independent sources.

References

  • Workbook linkNot yet checked

    wcrc.eu

    Link supplied in the source workbook (“Christian Denominations”, row 20). It has not been checked to confirm that it supports every claim in that row.

Original workbook record

Imported unchanged from “Christian Denominations”, row 20. Values here are the starting dataset, not verified facts; where the Atlas differs, the reason is noted below.

Denomination / Tradition
Reformed / Presbyterian / Calvinist
Broader Tradition
Protestantism
Date Established / Split
1536 AD
Origin / Location
Geneva, Switzerland / Scotland
Forming Event / Schism
Protestant Reformation
Approx. Practitioners
75,000,000
Broke Away From
Roman Catholic Church
Primary Reason for Split / Core Doctrine
John Calvin's systematic theology stressing God's absolute sovereignty, double predestination, and Presbyterian/Elder church governance.
Reference / Information Link
https://wcrc.eu

Editorial notes on this record

  • Date Established / Split: 1536 understates the earlier Zurich reform (from 1519).
  • Primary Reason for Split / Core Doctrine: “Double predestination” is not affirmed by all Reformed churches.

Research sources for this entry

Every relationship, position and figure above cites these. Each links to the Atlas’s single source register, which shows what each source supports and whether it was read.