Protestant Church of Luxembourg
Encyclopedia
The Protestant Church of Luxembourg is a Protestant
denomination
that operates solely in Luxembourg
. It is a united church, unifying facets of Calvinism
and Lutheranism
.
The church was founded by order of Grand Duke
Adolphe
on 16 April 1894. At the time, the state supported Roman Catholicism, under the Concordat of 1801
, and Adolphe sought to redress the balance by recognising the country's Protestant minority. However, the Protestant population was divided into several denominations, including Lutherans
, Calvinists
, and Waldensians
. Adolphe decided to create a new church that synthesised the Augsburg and Helvetian creeds (i.e. Lutheranism and Calvinism), allowing him to recognise both traditions whilst supporting only one church.
The Protestant Church of Luxembourg has 1,300 registered members, and remains the biggest of several Protestant churches. Other Protestant churches operating in Luxembourg include the Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg
, the Evangelical Church in Germany
, the Church of England
, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands
, the hurch of Denmark].
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
denomination
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
that operates solely in Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. It is a united church, unifying facets of Calvinism
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
and Lutheranism
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
.
The church was founded by order of Grand Duke
Grand Duke of Luxembourg
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the sovereign monarch and head of state of Luxembourg. Luxembourg has been a grand duchy since 15 March 1815, when it was elevated from a duchy when placed in personal union with the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
Adolphe
Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Adolphe I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last Duke of Nassau, and the fourth Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Biography:...
on 16 April 1894. At the time, the state supported Roman Catholicism, under the Concordat of 1801
Concordat of 1801
The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801. It solidified the Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France and brought back most of its civil status....
, and Adolphe sought to redress the balance by recognising the country's Protestant minority. However, the Protestant population was divided into several denominations, including Lutherans
Lutheranism
Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the theology of Martin Luther, a German reformer. Luther's efforts to reform the theology and practice of the church launched the Protestant Reformation...
, Calvinists
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
, and Waldensians
Waldensians
Waldensians, Waldenses or Vaudois are names for a Christian movement of the later Middle Ages, descendants of which still exist in various regions, primarily in North-Western Italy. There is considerable uncertainty about the earlier history of the Waldenses because of a lack of extant source...
. Adolphe decided to create a new church that synthesised the Augsburg and Helvetian creeds (i.e. Lutheranism and Calvinism), allowing him to recognise both traditions whilst supporting only one church.
The Protestant Church of Luxembourg has 1,300 registered members, and remains the biggest of several Protestant churches. Other Protestant churches operating in Luxembourg include the Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg
Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg
The Protestant Reformed Church of Luxembourg is a Protestant reformed church that operates solely in Luxembourg.Established in 1982 by decree of Grand Duke Jean, it is one of the six state-supported...
, the Evangelical Church in Germany
Evangelical Church in Germany
The Evangelical Church in Germany is a federation of 22 Lutheran, Unified and Reformed Protestant regional church bodies in Germany. The EKD is not a church in a theological understanding because of the denominational differences. However, the member churches share full pulpit and altar...
, the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands
Protestant Church in the Netherlands
The Protestant Church in the Netherlands is the largest Protestant Christian denomination in the Netherlands. With 2,000 congregations and a membership of some 1.8 million , it is the second largest church in the Netherlands after the Roman Catholic Church.It was founded 1 May 2004 as a merger of...
, the hurch of Denmark].