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Denomination Explorer

Christianity is not one tradition. It is a family shaped by centuries of faith, geography, and the many ways people have met God. Explore the full family here. All branches. No judgment.

Evangelical~1609

Baptist

πŸ“ Amsterdam, Netherlands (English Separatists); spread to England and America

Scripture alone, believer's baptism by immersion, congregational governance.

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Evangelical1863

Seventh-day Adventist

πŸ“ Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

Saturday Sabbath, healthy living, and the imminent return of Christ.

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Evangelical~1906 (formal separation)

Churches of Christ (a cappella)

πŸ“ Southern USA (Tennessee, Texas)

Scripture only: no instruments in worship, no creed, believer's baptism for salvation.

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Evangelical~1927 (identified as distinct body)

Christian Churches (Independent)

πŸ“ USA (Midwest)

Instrumental Stone-Campbell conservatives: direct New Testament Christianity.

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Evangelical~1860s

Stundists

πŸ“ Ukraine (Odessa region), Russian Empire

Ukrainian Protestant movement born from German pietist Bible hours.

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Evangelical~1970s–present

Non-denominational Evangelical

πŸ“ USA (primarily); now global

Bible-believing, Jesus-centred Christianity without traditional denominational labels.

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Evangelical1831

Plymouth Brethren

πŸ“ Plymouth, England; Dublin, Ireland

No clergy, no creed: just the Lord's Table and Scripture exposition.

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Evangelical1908

Church of the Nazarene (Holiness)

πŸ“ Pilot Point, Texas, USA

Entire sanctification: Wesley's second blessing in the American heartland.

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Evangelical1865

Salvation Army

πŸ“ East London, England

An army for God: evangelism, soup kitchens, and no sacraments.

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Evangelical1827

Primitive Baptist

πŸ“ Southern USA

Old-school Calvinist Baptists: no Sunday schools, no paid ministers, no instruments.

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Evangelical1860

Free Methodist Church

πŸ“ Pekin, New York, USA

Free pews, free slaves, free grace - the abolitionist breakaway from Methodism.

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Evangelical1968 (merger); roots in 1843

Wesleyan Church

πŸ“ Indiana, USA

Holiness, social action, and entire sanctification in the Wesleyan tradition.

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Evangelical1881

Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)

πŸ“ Anderson, Indiana, USA

No membership roll, no creed - just the restored New Testament Church.

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Evangelical1887

Christian Missionary Alliance (C&MA)

πŸ“ New York City, USA

A.B. Simpson's Fourfold Gospel: Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, Coming King.

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Evangelical~1770s

Brethren in Christ

πŸ“ Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA

Where Anabaptist, Pietist, and Holiness streams converge.

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β›ͺ

Christian Churches (Independent)

Evangelical

~1927 (identified as distinct body)

πŸ“ USA (Midwest)

🌍 ~1.1 million

Origin

Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (independent) represent the middle stream of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement - using instrumental music (unlike the a cappella Churches of Christ) but remaining independent of the structured denominational machinery of the Disciples of Christ. They coalesced through the North American Christian Convention (1927) and emphasise congregational autonomy and biblical inerrancy.

Core beliefs

  • Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins
  • Weekly Lord's Supper
  • Congregational autonomy; no outside denominational control
  • Instrumental music permitted in worship
  • Scripture as sole authority; biblically inerrant

Worship style

Contemporary evangelical with instrumental music, congregational singing, expository preaching, and weekly communion. Independent congregations vary considerably in style from traditional to megachurch.

Key scriptures

  • Acts 2:38
  • 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
  • John 17:21
  • Romans 6:3–4

Relationship to other denominations

Middle stream of Stone-Campbell movement. More conservative than Disciples of Christ; distinct from a cappella Churches of Christ by use of instruments.