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Christian Denominations Timeline

(1st century–Present)

This timeline traces the historical development of Christian denominations, highlighting major divisions, reform movements, theological differences, and the growth of Christian traditions worldwide. Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early divisions and ancient churches

Orthodox and Catholic separation

1000 - 1099

Since the eleventh-century East–West Schism, Orthodox and Catholic Christians have been separated, with each claiming to represent the original pre-schism Church.

Image source: East–West Schism

Orthodox and Catholic separation

Great Schism

1054

The Eastern and Western Christian groups gradually drifted apart until patriarchs from both traditions excommunicated one another around 1054 in the event known as the Great Schism.

Waldensians founded

1100 - 1199

In northern Italy and southeastern France, Peter Waldo founded the Waldensians during the twelfth century.

Image source: Waldensians

Waldensians founded

Moravian Church emerges

1400 - 1499

The Hussite movement created the Moravian Church, which is described in the source material as a major Protestant denomination.

Image source: Moravian Church

Moravian Church emerges

Chaldean Catholic Church enters communion with Rome

1552

The Chaldean Catholic Church, the largest Church of the East-derived body since the early twentieth century, formed from groups that entered communion with Rome at different times beginning in 1552.

Image source: Chaldean Catholic Church

Chaldean Catholic Church enters communion with Rome

Ethiopian Church gains autocephaly

1963

Although Ethiopia had a strong Christian community from the infancy of Christianity, its church gained autocephaly in 1963.

Image source: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Ethiopian Church gains autocephaly

Ancient Church of the East separates

1964

The Ancient Church of the East has been distinct since 1964 and is headed by Addai II Giwargis, who resides in Baghdad.

Image source: Ancient Church of the East

Ancient Church of the East separates

Church of the East becomes officially Assyrian

1976

Since 1976, the second-largest Church of the East-derived body has officially been called the Assyrian Church of the East. From 1933 to 2015 it was headquartered first in Cyprus and then in the United States.

Image source: Assyrian Church of the East

Church of the East becomes officially Assyrian

Eritrean Church gains autocephaly

1994

The Christian tradition in Eritrea gained autocephaly in 1994 after centuries of belonging to a wider ecclesiastical structure.

Image source: Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Eritrean Church gains autocephaly

Reformation and Protestant traditions

Sixteenth-century Protestant separation

1500 - 1599

Sixteenth-century Protestants separated from the Catholic Church during the Reformation, a movement opposing doctrines and practices that the Reformers believed violated the Bible.

Image source: Reformation

Sixteenth-century Protestant separation

Unitarian churches emerge

1500 - 1599

Unitarian churches emerged from the Reformed tradition in Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Transylvania, Hungary, and Romania during the sixteenth century.

Image source: Unitarianism

Unitarian churches emerge

Protestant denominational diversity develops

1500 - 1599

Protestantism developed into a diverse family that includes Adventists, Anabaptists, Anglicans, Baptists, Congregationalists, Methodists, Moravians, Pentecostals, Presbyterians, Reformed Christians, and, depending on classification, Unitarians.

Image source: Protestantism

Protestant denominational diversity develops

Lutheran and Reformed distinctions develop

1500 - 1599

Lutherans distinguish themselves from the broader category of Reformed Protestantism because of major differences in sacramental theology and historical approaches to the Reformation. Both traditions understood their work as reforming the Catholic Church rather than wholly rejecting it.

Image source: Lutheranism

Lutheran and Reformed distinctions develop

Anglican via media develops

1500 - 1599

Anglicanism was generally classified as Protestant and originally understood as a via media, or middle way, between Lutheranism and Reformed Christianity.

Image source: Anglicanism

Anglican via media develops

Protestant Reformation begins

Oct 31, 1517

The Protestant Reformation began when Martin Luther posted the Ninety-Five Theses in Saxony on October 31, 1517. The theses presented grievances intended to reform the pre-Reformation Western Church.

Image source: Ninety-five Theses

Protestant Reformation begins

Church of England established

1534

In 1534, Henry VIII declared himself supreme head of the Church of England through the Act of Supremacy, founding the Church of England while repressing both Lutheran reformers and those loyal to the pope.

Image source: Acts of Supremacy

Church of England established

Quaker movement begins

1600 - 1699

Quakerism began as an evangelical Christian movement in seventeenth-century England. It rejected priests and formal Anglican or Catholic sacraments, including water baptism.

Image source: Quakers

Quaker movement begins

Modern denominational developments

Restorationist churches reject denominational labels

1800 - 1899

Many churches with Restorationist roots reject identification as Protestant or even as denominations. They use the Bible rather than creeds and model their churches on what they understand to be the first-century church; the Churches of Christ are one example.

Image source: Restorationism

Restorationist churches reject denominational labels

Oxford Movement reshapes Anglican identity

1800 - 1899

Since the Oxford Movement of the nineteenth century, some Anglo-Catholic Anglican writers have emphasized a more Catholic understanding of the church and characterized Anglicanism as both Protestant and Catholic.

Image source: Oxford Movement

Oxford Movement reshapes Anglican identity

Latter Day Saint restoration begins

1830

Most Latter Day Saint denominations derive from the Church of Christ (Latter Day Saints), established by Joseph Smith in 1830 and categorized as a Restorationist denomination.

Image source: Latter Day Saint movement

Latter Day Saint restoration begins

Stone and Campbell groups unite in fellowship

1832

In 1832, the Stone and Campbell groups joined in fellowship with a handshake. Both promoted a return to the purposes of first-century churches described in the New Testament.

Image source: Restoration Movement

Stone and Campbell groups unite in fellowship

Old Catholic term appears

1853

The term “Old Catholic” was first used in 1853 for members of the See of Utrecht who were not under papal authority.

First Vatican Council promulgates papal infallibility

1869 - 1870

The First Vatican Council of 1869–1870 promulgated the dogma of papal infallibility, a development that led to a subsequent Old Catholic split.

Image source: First Vatican Council

First Vatican Council promulgates papal infallibility

Old Catholic Church splits

1870 - 1879

The Old Catholic Church split from the Catholic Church in the 1870s because of opposition to the promulgation of papal infallibility.

Latter Day Saint schisms follow the 1890 Manifesto

1890

Several Latter Day Saint denominations broke away over the abandonment of plural marriage after the 1890 Manifesto.

Image source: 1890 Manifesto

Latter Day Saint schisms follow the 1890 Manifesto

African Initiated Churches develop syncretic traditions

1900 - 1999

African Initiated Churches, including Kimbanguism, mostly fall within Protestantism while displaying varying degrees of syncretism.

Image source: African-initiated church

African Initiated Churches develop syncretic traditions

Methodist schisms and mergers

1900 - 1999

Methodism underwent numerous administrative schisms and mergers with other denominations, particularly groups associated with the holiness movement during the twentieth century.

Image source: Methodism

Methodist schisms and mergers

Liberal Catholic Church begins

1916

The Liberal Catholic Church began in 1916 when an Old Catholic bishop in London, Bishop Matthew, consecrated James Wedgwood to the episcopacy.

Ecumenism and demographics

Christian conversion among Jews in the 19th century

1800 - 1899

Existing records of various societies indicate that at least 250,000 Jews converted to Christianity during the nineteenth century.

Image source: Conversion to Christianity

Christian conversion among Jews in the 19th century

Ecumenical cooperation expands

1900 - 1999

The measure of mutual acceptance among Christian denominations and movements has grown largely through the twentieth-century ecumenical movement and overarching bodies such as the World Council of Churches.

Image source: Ecumenism

Ecumenical cooperation expands

Second Vatican Council changes terminology

1962 - 1965

Since reforms surrounding the Second Vatican Council of 1962–1965, the Catholic Church has referred to Protestant bodies as ecclesial communities while reserving “church” for apostolic churches, including Eastern and Oriental Orthodox and Ancient and Assyrian churches.

Image source: Second Vatican Council

Second Vatican Council changes terminology

Feeneyism rejected by the Catholic Church

1962 - 1965

Feeneyism is considered a heresy by the Catholic Church and was rejected by the Second Vatican Council of 1962–1965.

Denominational divisions become less sharp

2011

As of 2011, divisions among Christian denominations were becoming less sharp, with increasing cooperation known as ecumenism.

American Jewish Christians recorded by Pew

2013

Pew Research Center data reported that in 2013 about 1.6 million adult American Jews identified themselves as Christians, most of them as Protestants.

Protestant population reaches 1.047 billion

2024

In 2024, the total Protestant population reached approximately 1.047 billion, accounting for about 39.8 percent of all Christians.

Key Facts

  1. Christianity began as a movement within first-century Judaism and gradually developed distinct beliefs, institutions, and worship practices.
  2. The Great Schism of 1054 formally divided Christianity into the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox churches in the East, although tensions had developed for centuries.
  3. The Protestant Reformation began in the 16th century, challenging aspects of Roman Catholic theology and authority and leading to denominations such as Lutheranism, Calvinism, and Anglicanism.
  4. Christian denominations differ over doctrines including church authority, sacraments, salvation, baptism, communion, and the role of tradition.
  5. Today, Christianity includes Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Protestant, Anglican, and numerous independent traditions, with hundreds or thousands of denominations worldwide depending on classification.

Source

This Christian Denominations timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.

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