Continental Reformed church

A continental Reformed church is a Calvinist church that has its origin in the European continent. The term is used to distinguish these churches from Presbyterian or other Calvinistic churches that have their origin in the British Isles. Sometimes these churches are referred to simply as Reformed, usually when the term is used in juxtaposition to Presbyterian, even though Presbyterians and other Calvinist churches are commonly referred to as Reformed. They are descended from the Swiss Reformation inaugurated by Huldrych Zwingli and more fully articulated by Martin Bucer, Heinrich Bullinger and especially John Calvin. In the 16th century, the movement spread to most of Europe, aligning with national governments in most cases, though several of these national or specific language-based churches later expanded to worldwide denominations.