Major Dates

  • 1802

    The Organic articles as addition to the Concordat

    On September 18, 1801, Napoleon Bonaparte signed the Concordat with the Pope. On April 8, 1802, he promulgated the Organic Articles that organize the life of the Catholic Church and the Protestant and Jewish religions. They provide in particular for the remuneration of the clergy by the State, the allocation and funding of places of worship and the representation of the communities.

    Article : The French Concordat

  • 1822

    Creation of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society

    On November 4, the bylaws of the Missionary Society, whose aim is to “spread the Gospel among heathens.” This was a revival movement, whose founding members were of various nationalities. Their personal wealth allowed them to retain their independence vis-à-vis the consistories of Paris. Very quickly, the Missionary Society initiated activities in France and in Africa, and its influence was considerable.

    Article : Missionary Societies

  • 1872

    Synod of the Reformed Church of Paris

    This was the first national synod since the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes (1685). This synod marked a break with the orthodox and liberal currents of reformed Protestantism in France.

    Article : Times of disagreement

  • 1877

    A Protestant Theology School in Paris

    For the first time, a Protestant theology school was established in Paris. It was the convergence of two movements: the desire to establish theology instruction in Paris and the arrival of two professors from Strasbourg, who did not want to be under German administration.

    Article : The Faculty of Protestant theology in Paris

  • 1881

    The Salvation Army is established in France

    An organization focused on evangelizing and social work in working class areas, founded in England, the Salvation Army was established in France in 1881 by Catherine Booth, sometimes nicknamed “the Marshal,” daughter of the Methodist minister William Booth, who founded the organization in London in 1878. Organized according to a “military” model, it currently employees around 3,500 people in France in more than 60 establishments.

    Article : The Salvation Army

  • 1895

    Creation of the World Christian Student Federation (WCSF)

    John Mott founded the World Christian Student Federation in New York City. An assembly of various youth groups, the WCSF defines itself as an ecumenical movement of openness, dialogue and training, raising students’ awareness of the problems that they may encounter in their working life.

    Article : Protestant women in the Fédé movement

  • 1898

    Creation of the Christian Socialist Movement

    Christian Socialism was created at the initiative of a number of ministers, including Tommy Fallot. The aim was to confront Christian faith with the concrete realities of the social environment. In particular, this involves developing an active and ecumenical solidarity with the disadvantaged. The movement founded a journal, Christian Socialism, that then published articles by Elie Gounelle, Wilfred Monod or Charles Gide and many people concerned about social problems.

    Article : Social Christianity