History of Presbyterianism These denominations derive their name
from the Greek word presbyteros, which literally means "elder."
Presbyterian government is common to the Protestant churches
that were most closely modelled after the Reformation in
Switzerland. In England, Scotland and Ireland, the Reformed
churches that adopted a presbyterian instead of episcopalian
government, became known naturally enough, as the Presbyterian
Church. In Scotland, John Knox (1505-1572), who had studied
under Calvin in Geneva, returned to Scotland and led the
Parliament of Scotland to embrace the Reformation in 1560. The
first Presbyterian church, the Church of Scotland, was founded
as a result. In England, Presbyterianism was established in
secret in 1572, toward the end of the reign of Elizabeth I of
England. In 1647, by an act of the Long Parliament under the
control of Puritans, Presbyterianism was established for the
Church of England. The re-establishment of the monarchy in 1660
brought the re-establishment of episcopali