Confessional standards of the Protestant Reformation, produced by the synods, assemblies, and convocations of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Each is given here in an authoritative public-domain English text.
Anglican (English Reformation)
- The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (1571) — the doctrinal articles of the Church of England, in their original English form. 39 articles.
Continental Reformed
- The Heidelberg Catechism (1563) — the gentlest and most beloved of the Reformed catechisms, one of the Three Forms of Unity. 129 questions in 52 Lord’s Days.
The Westminster Standards
Produced by the Westminster Assembly (1643–53) and adopted across the Presbyterian and Reformed churches.
- The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) — the confession proper, in 33 chapters. Held with the Assembly’s other work under Puritans → Westminster Assembly, in Schaff’s text (Creeds of Christendom III, via CCEL).
- The Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647) — 107 questions, for the instruction of the young and unlearned. Also held under Puritans → Westminster Assembly.
- The Westminster Larger Catechism (1648) — 196 questions, a fuller exposition for public teaching.