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      Zwingli, Calvin and the Swiss Reformation

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain how the Church split into different groups and the beliefs they held.

      Key learning points

      1. The printing press helped to spread Luther's ideas around Europe.
      2. Different people took up Luther's ideas and added to them.
      3. Zwingli believed that icons, relics and music distracted people from worship and should be removed.
      4. Groups of Protestants emerged who believed in the views of different leaders like Zwingli and Luther.

      Keywords

      • Reformer/reformist - someone who tries to change and improve something, such as a religion

      • Catholic - a Christian who believes that the pope has authority over the Church

      • Protestant - a member of a Western Church which does not recognise the pope as its head

      • Reformation - a 16th century movement calling for the reform of the Church

      • Transubstantiation - the teaching that the bread and wine used in the Eucharist become the body and blood of Christ

      Common misconception

      Protestantism is a single unified religion.

      There are, today, thousands of different Christian denominations that can be considered versions of Protestantism. Almost from its very inception, Protestantism split into a variety of competing belief systems.

      Teacher tip

      Ask students to write arguments both in favour and against Calvin's rules for the people of Geneva. They seem very strict to us today, but try to help students understand that Calvin wanted people to be able to focus on God in order to increase their chances of entering Heaven.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

      Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

      Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which keyword means to be to be banned from Church services and the community?

      Correct Answer: excommunicated, Excommunicated

      Q2.
      Complete the following sentence: The Lutheran led to widespread religious and political reform over the next few centuries.

      Correct Answer: Reformation

      Q3.
      Complete the sentence: Luther believed that nothing humans could do would guarantee salvation; only faith in alone would reward them with a place in Heaven.

      Correct Answer: God, god

      Q4.
      What did Luther do during his 'captivity'?

      He wrote the pope an apology letter.
      He wrote the ‘Defence of the Seven Sacraments’.
      Correct answer: He translated the Bible into German.
      He translated the Bible into Latin.

      Q5.
      What title did Pope Leo X give to Henry VIII to show how pleased he was with him?

      Holy Roman Emperor
      'Defender of the Church’
      'Defender of the Peace’
      Correct answer: 'Defender of the Faith’

      Q6.
      What other event did Luther's challenge to the Church's authority inspire?

      the English Civil War
      the German Civil War
      the English Peasants’ War
      Correct answer: the German Peasants’ War

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the keywords to the correct definitions.

      Correct Answer:reformer/reformist,someone who tries to change and improve something, such as a religion
      Correct Answer:Catholic,a Christian who believes that the pope has authority over the Church
      Correct Answer:Protestant,a member of a Western Church which does not recognise the pope

      Q2.
      Which of the following words describes the teaching that the bread and wine used in the Eucharist become the body and blood of Christ?

      consubstantiation
      Correct answer: transubstantiation
      symbolic

      Q3.
      What was the main difference between Wycliffe and Hus and Luther?

      Luther had the support of the Holy Roman Emperor
      Luther had the support of the pope
      the invention and use of the telegram
      Correct answer: the invention and use of the printing press

      Q4.
      Complete the sentence: Protestant works were written in German so that people could read and understand them, whereas Catholic works were generally written in .

      Correct Answer: Latin, latin

      Q5.
      Who founded the Swiss Reformed Church in July 1522 inspired by Luther's teachings?

      Martin Zwingli
      Correct answer: Huldrych Zwingli
      Henry V
      Henry VIII

      Q6.
      What was the name of an important Protestant reformer who organise Geneva's government based around Protestantism and a strict set of rules?

      Correct Answer: John Calvin, Calvin

      To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Zwingli, Calvin and the Swiss Reformation, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...