Early Church30 The church from the time of the apostles through the first great councils, before the lasting splits of the 5th century and the Great Schism of 1054.
Armenian Apostolic301 The national church of Armenia, one of the Oriental Orthodox churches, led by the Catholicos of All Armenians at Etchmiadzin.
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo330 The church of Ethiopia, one of the Oriental Orthodox churches. Tewahedo means “made one”, referring to the union of divinity and humanity in Christ.
Church of the East431 The church of the Persian Empire and Mesopotamia, using Syriac, which did not accept the Council of Ephesus (431) and holds Church of the East Christology.
Coptic Orthodox451 The ancient church of Egypt, led by the Pope of Alexandria, and the largest of the Oriental Orthodox churches.
Oriental Orthodox451 The family of churches that accept the first three ecumenical councils but not the Council of Chalcedon (451), and hold Miaphysitism.
Syriac Orthodox451 The Syriac-speaking church of Antioch, one of the Oriental Orthodox churches, led by the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.
Eastern Orthodox1054 The family of self-governing churches (Constantinople, Antioch, Russia, Greece and others) that share the faith of the seven ecumenical councils. It also claims unbroken continuity with the apostolic church; the Great Schism of 1054 marks its break with the Roman Catholic church.
Roman Catholic1054 The Western church in communion with the bishop of Rome. It claims unbroken continuity with the apostolic church; the Great Schism of 1054 marks its formal break with the Eastern Orthodox.
Lutheran1517 The churches that grew from Martin Luther’s reform movement, starting with the Ninety-Five Theses in 1517. Their teaching is summed up in the Book of Concord (1580).
Reformed1519 The Protestant churches that began with Zwingli’s reforms in Zurich (from 1519) and were shaped above all by John Calvin in Geneva. They include the Presbyterian, Continental Reformed and many Congregational churches.
Anabaptist1525 The Radical Reformation movement that baptised believers only, sought churches separate from the state, and in most branches refused oaths and violence.
Anglican1534 The Church of England and the churches descended from it, now a worldwide communion that keeps bishops and historic liturgy while accepting key Reformation teachings.
Baptist1609 Protestant churches that baptise only professing believers, usually by immersion, and hold that each local congregation governs itself.
Remonstrants1610 Dutch followers of Jacobus Arminius, named after their Remonstrance of 1610. After the Synod of Dort their ministers were expelled, and they organized as the Remonstrant Brotherhood in 1619.
Evangelical1735 A movement across Protestant denominations that stresses personal conversion, the authority of the Bible, the saving death of Christ on the cross, and active sharing of the faith.
Methodist1738 A revival movement within the Church of England led by John and Charles Wesley, stressing personal conversion, holy living and Arminian theology. It became a separate church in America in 1784 and in Britain after John Wesley’s death in 1791.
Pentecostal1901 A Protestant movement that stresses a baptism in the Holy Spirit after conversion, usually marked by speaking in tongues, along with healing and other spiritual gifts.
Charismatic1960 The renewal movement that brought Pentecostal experience, such as baptism in the Spirit, speaking in tongues and healing, into historic churches without members leaving them.