Continental Reformed Protestantism

It was inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli, who formulated the first expression of the Reformed faith.

Swiss Reformation was more fully articulated by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and John Calvin.

In the sixteenth century, the movement spread to most of continental Europe, sometimes with the protection of monarchs or members of the nobility, as in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary, some German states, and France.

The first Calvinist churches were established in Europe after 1519 and were part of the Protestant Reformation.

This is usually called Synodal government by the Continental Reformed, but is essentially the same as presbyterian polity, with the elders forming the consistory, the regional governing body known as the classis, and the highest court of appeal being the general synod.