TheEvangelical Presbyterian Church in Portugal (Portuguese:Igreja Evangélica Presbiteriana em Portugal) is a result of evangelistic effort inMadeira between 1838 and 1846 by Robert Kalley, aScottish minister, the mission continued in the continent in 1966. The first Presbyterian church was founded by Rev. Antonio de Matos, who arrived inPortugal in 1870. Matos was converted by Kalley, and studied inScotland.Throughout the 19th and 20th century churches were planted in Madeira,Azores,Portugal. In 1926 a Presbytery was formed. In 1944 theEvangelical Presbyterian Church in Portugal was formed.In 1946 a Theological Seminary was formed inCarcavelos, but moved toLisbon in 1970.The denomination is the oldest non-Catholic church in Portugal.It is a member of theWorld Communion of Reformed Churches,[1] theCommunion of Protestant Churches in Europe, theConference of European Churches and theWorld Council of Churches.[2]
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church has approximately 25–30 congregations and 3,000 members, scattered in four presbyteries and one Synod.[3] The denomination adheres to theApostles Creed,Nicene Creed,Athanasian Creed and theHeidelberg Catechism.[4]
