Presbyterianism
- Year
- 1560
- Kind
- Tradition
What it was
A form of the Reformed tradition governed by elders (presbyters) meeting in sessions, presbyteries and synods. It was established in Scotland under John Knox in 1560, and its classic confessional standard is the Westminster Confession (1646).
Little known
The Westminster Assembly (1643–1653) was summoned not by a church but by the English Parliament, to reform the Church of England. Its Confession was adopted in Scotland in 1647, but in England it lost force with the Restoration of 1660.
Key figures
- John Knoxc. 1514–1572
- Andrew Melville1545–1622
- Samuel Rutherfordc. 1600–1661
Key documents
- Scots Confession1560
- Westminster Confession of Faith1646
- Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechisms1647