Ashbel Green Simonton (1833–1867), considered the founder of the Church, was born in West Hanover, Pennsylvania.

While there, a sermon preached by Professor Charles Hodge made him consider becoming a missionary, and three years later he volunteered to the Presbyterian Church in the United States' (PCUS) Missions Board, naming Brazil as his preferred destination.

[3] In January 1862, the first converts professed their faith and the Presbyterian Church of Rio de Janeiro was formally organized.

[3] Other missionaries assisted Simonton in the early years of the Brazilian mission: Other churches created in the denomination's first few decades were in Lorena, Borda da Mata, Pouso Alegre and Sorocaba, most of these credited to Rev.

José Manoel da Conceição (1822–1873), a former Roman Catholic priest and the first Brazilian to be ordained a Protestant minister (1865).

[citation needed] PCUS missionaries also preached in the Mogiana region, western Minas Gerais, the Triângulo Mineiro and southern Goiás.

In the same year, new congregations were also established in the States of São Paulo, Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul.

Eduardo C. Pereira created a platform outlining his differences with the church on missionary, educational and Masonic matters.

On 31 July, 1903, Pereira and his colleagues withdrew from the Synod and founded the Independent Presbyterian Church of Brazil.

Articles 7 and 8 of the PL read: The Constitution of the Church[10] states that overseeing the liturgy and worship practices of the local congregation is the responsibility and private prerogative of the Minister of Word and Sacraments, who is free to arrange the elements of the service as he deems more edifying to the congregation, so long as worship practices don't come into conflict with the church's doctrinal standards.

Christian S. Bittencourt, former Professor of Theology of Worship at the Rio de Janeiro Presbyterian Theological Seminary, stated that there are at least four distinct liturgical groups in Brazilian Presbyterianism: Old-school Conservatives, Evangelical Charismatics, Ultra-puritans and Neo-orthodox Conservatives.

The church is represented out of court by the President of the Supreme Council which elected directly in and anonymous vote.

Jose Manoel da Conceicao the first Brazilian Protestant pastor ordained by the presbyterian church.