Western Christianity

Western Christianity

Western Christianity is one of the two big parts of Christianity. It includes the Latin Church, also called the Roman Catholic Church, and many churches of Western Protestantism. It also has groups like the Old Catholic Church, Independent Catholicism, and Restorationism.

Most of the world's Christians belong to Western Christianity. The Latin Church grew under the leadership of the bishop of Rome. From this church came many Protestant groups, such as Lutheranism and Anglicanism, beginning with the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century.

Western Christianity has greatly shaped Western civilization. As Europeans explored and settled new lands, they shared their faith. This spread Western Christianity to places like the Americas, the Philippines, Southern Africa, parts of West Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Today, Western and Eastern Christianity differ mainly in history, beliefs, and church practices. While the Latin Church uses the Latin liturgical rites, Protestant and Independent Catholic churches have their own ways of worship.