Welsh Calvinistic Methodist (Presby This Church represents Presbyterian ism in Wales. The movement which resulted in the establishment of this Church began in 1736 and owes its origin to the evangelical re vivals which were spreading throughout the country at that time. In 1864, the two synods, that of North Wales and that of South Wales, united in one General Assembly, whose deci sions are binding upon churches in all matters of controversy between them. This Church maintains cordial fellowship with the Presbyte rian Church of England. Its Confession of Faith in all essential articles is in harmony with the Westminster Confession, and with the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church of Eng land. Its leading theological seminary is at Bala, North Wales. It has also under its care a college at Trevecca, South Wales. It has both Home and Foreign Missionary societies, and a fund for the support of aged and infirm ministers. The above-named churches are the principal branches of the Presbyterian Church in the United Kingdom of Great Britain. In addition to these there are in Scotland the Re formed Presbyterian Church, and the original Secession Churcji of Scotland, with a com bined membership of about 10,000, and in Eng land a branch of the Church of Scotland.
The Irish Presbyterian Church.— Presby terian ministers began their work in Ireland as early as 1594, but on account of persecution Presbyterianism did not obtain a permanent footing there until 1642. It found its home in the northern part of the island, and in the prov ince of Ulster. Its progress was at first hin dered by divisions, and by the presence of Arianism which was openly avowed by some of its ministers. In 1840 the various churches were united in one body under the name of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Since this union the Irish Presbyte rian Church has occupied a commanding posi tion in the country. It has at present more than half a million people under its care, 560 congre gations, over 600 ministers, 5 synods and 37 presbyteries. For a time its ministers were supported by the Regium Donum —a grant from the state. About 33 years ago this grant was commuted into a general fund amounting to $3,000,000. This is the basis of
the Sustentation Fund, the income from which, increased by voluntary contributions from the churches, supports the ministry. The Church has large foreign missions, and has under its care the Assembly's College at Belfast, and the Magee College, Londonderry. For the last 150 years there has been a constant stream of emi gration from the north of Ireland to America and the British colonies, so that the Irish Pres byterian Church has been largely instrumental in establishing Presbyterianism in other parts of the world. Three small communities in Ire land have failed to go into the United Irish Presbyterian Church and retain their separate autonomy under the names of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Eastern Reformed Church and the Secession Church.
Presbyterian Churches in Europe.— The Reformed churches of the Reformation period in Switzerland, France, Germany, Bohemia and the Netherlands were generally presbyterian as to 'their form-of government. In addition to these is ancient church of the Waldensians, dating om primitive times and now estab lish di various parts of Italy and Switzer la In later years the Presbyterian Church h been extended to Spain, Hungary, Austria, ssia and Norway. The number of adherents 19 Europe is somewht over 14,000,000.
4 There are also scattered groups of Presby terians in Africa, Asia, Australasia and South America, numbering all told about 2,600,000.
Bibliography.— For the Churches of Scot land: Histories of the Scottish Church by Calderwood, Spottiswoode, Row, Woodrow, Cook, Lee, Grub, Cunningham and Stanley; Hill, 'View of the Church of Scotland' ; Dun lop, 'Book of the Universal Kirk' ; and 'Collec tion of Articles of Faith of Authority in the Church of Scotland.' For the Churches of England: McCrie, 'Annals of English Presbytery); Skeats, 'His tory of Free Churches in England' ; Brook, 'Life of Thomas Cartwright' ; Grosart, 'Rep resentative Noncontormists.' For the Churches of Ireland and Continent of Europe: 'Records of a General Council of the Presbyterian Churches' (1877-99).