Protestantism originated in the 16th century as a movement of protest against the religious power of the Roman Catholic Church. This reforming movement met with success in certain countries but was violently repressed in others. Towards the end of the 16th century, after what at times was to be a violent confrontation, the religious map of Europe was established for the centuries to come.

In the 17th century, protestants living under the legislation prescribed by the Edict of Nantes contributed greatly to their times as academics and theologians. But after the treaty of Alès, Louis XIII took away their strongholds and under Louis XIV they gradually lost all that remained of their religious freedom ; finally, the king resorted to violence : the royal army forced them to convert to Catholicism. And in 1685, with the revocation of the edict of Nantes, Protestantism was outlawed in France.

Despite the ban imposed on their religion, such Protestants as had not sought exile in the “countries of the Refuge” sought to retain their reformed faith. Such disobedience to the royal edicts brought about violence, especially during the wars of the Camisards. Repression was to diminish towards the end of the century and Protestants, recognised by the Edict of Tolerance, were to play an important role during the period of the revolution.

For French Protestantism the 19th century is a time of intense « Renewal » in all spheres : intellectual activity and theological confrontation, dynamism in all aspects of civil and social life.

The 20th century is marked by the steady growth of secularisation. Scientific and technical progress in all spheres, changes in public political platforms, the widening of economic exchanges and the multiplication of social interactions were to turn this century into a period during which the exercise of responsibility expresses itself in terms of “disenchantment”.

Marked by two world wars, by colonial wars, by the cold war, by the breaking down of the Berlin Wall and by communism, the 20th century was to witness remarkable oecumenical efforts amongst which featured the creation of the World Council of Churches and the 2nd Vatican Council.