TheSacramentarians wereChristians during theProtestant Reformation who denied not only theRoman Catholictransubstantiation but also theLutheransacramental union (as well as similar doctrines such asconsubstantiation).^[1]

During the turbulent final years ofHenry VIII's reign an influential faction of religious conservatives had dedicated themselves to rooting out what they consideredheresy in English society, including the denial of thereal presence in thesacrament of theEucharist ("sacramentarianism"). The king had stopped burning heretics in 1543 and within a few years the divide between religious parties in English society gave rise to intense conflict, and ten radical Christians were executed. Women were less likely to be among those so condemned; even so,Anne Askew, a writer from an importantLincolnshire family with family connections to the royal household, was tortured and burned on July 16 as part of a campaign to undermine QueenKatherine Parr, herself suspected by certain factions of harboring heretical beliefs.^[2]

Sacramentarians comprised two parties:^[1]

1. the followers ofWolfgang Capito,Andreas Karlstadt andMartin Bucer, who at theDiet of Augsburg presented theConfessio Tetrapolitana from the cities ofStrasbourg,Konstanz,Lindau andMemmingen.
2. the followers of the Swiss reformerHuldrych Zwingli, includingJohannes Oecolampadius. Zwingli presented his own confession of faith at theDiet of Augsburg.

The doctrinal standpoint was the same – an admission of a spiritual presence of Christ which the devout soul can receive and enjoy, but a total rejection of any physical or corporeal presence.^[1]

After holding their own view for some years the four cities accepted theConfession of Augsburg, and were merged in the general body of Lutherans; but Zwingli's position was incorporated in theHelvetic Confession.^[1]

In the 19th and 20th centuries, an inversion of terms has led to the name "Sacramentarians" being applied to those who hold a high or extreme view of the efficacy of thesacraments.^[1]

• Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist