Switzerland

Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) grew up in an educated and affluent home and, at his father’s bidding, studied in Vienna for the priesthood. In 1506 he was named a parish priest in Glarus where he demonstrated great skills as an orator. When he was named chief pastor of the Great Minster Church in Zurich he began openly expressing his disagreements with the church, especially decrying such practices as the worship of Mary and the sale of indulgences. He did not fully break from Rome until he nearly died during the plague of 1519. After surviving he fully dedicated his life to the cause of spreading a unified Reformation throughout Switzerland, although he came into conflict with local Anabaptists and Lutherans over various doctrinal matters. Despite the successes he enjoined, there were many who still supported Rome. An accord, called the Peace of Kappel, was reached between the Protestants and the Catholics but by 1531 a revolt broke out and Zwingli was killed in battle. His successor was a staunch Calvinist, Johann Heinrich Bullinger, who effectively guided the Swiss church and established the Evangelical Reformed churches. His popularity made him a martyr to the Protestant cause and helped seal the success of the Reformation in Switzerland.