Christian denominations in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles

Pluvia and the Saxean Isles, as a nation, is approximately 87% Christian. Some Christian denominations in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles are unique to the nation and are described below.

Distinct forms of Catholicism in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles

Saxean Catholic Church

The Saxean Catholic Church was founded in the mid-1900s as a movement among Catholics of the Saxean Isles who embraced the Celtic Rite, rejection of papal infallibility, and sought to connect to an "older" church free of modern influences. It retains an episcopal polity, with the Bishop of Saxea as its head. It uses both Latin and Old Saxean in its services and rejects much of Vatican II. They maintain the prohibition on married individuals, LGBTQ individuals, and/or women from serving as priests, but permit divorce. It comprises about 25% of Independent Catholics in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles.

Independent Catholic Communion

The ICC was founded in the early 1900s, taking inspiration from, but not affiliated with the Union of Utrecht Old Catholic Churches. They permit divorce and allow married men to become priests. They reject papal infallibility, transubstantiation, and the "filioque clause." They do not allow same-sex marriage, but allow celibate gay men to become priests. It comprises about 75% of Independent Catholics in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles.

Distinct forms of Protestantism in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles

Free Evangelical Church of Saxea

The Free Evangelical Church of Saxea is the original Protestant Church in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles, being formed in the late 1500s. It takes its theology and polity from John Calvin, meaning it maintains Calvinist Reformed theology and a presbyterian polity, each church being governed by elders and groups of churches being governed by synods, with the General Assembly being the highest governing body. The FECS maintains three synods: one for the Greater Island, one for the Lesser Island, and one for the Pluvian mainland. It is impossible to extricate the formation of the FECS from resistance to domination by Pluvia and only somewhat easier to extricate being Saxean from belonging to the Church. For some, belonging to the church is a matter of genuine belief, while for others, it helps connect them to their Saxean identity. It has a general low-church style of worship and recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and Holy Communion.

Reformed Church of Christ

Following the repeal of the Protestant tax in the years leading up to the 20th century, many new Protestant churches emerged in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles. The Reformed Church of Christ was not one of them. Like the Free Evangelical Church of Saxea, it emerged in the century following the Reformation. However, where the FECS largely consisted of Saxeans, the RCC was on the mainland of Pluvia. The two are not exactly affiliates of each other, but they are in full communion and share many of the same beliefs. They follow Calvinist theology and have presbyters and synods as well.

Evangelical Episcopal Church

Following the repeal of the Protestant tax in the years leading up to the 20th century, many new Protestant churches emerged in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles. Among them were churches following Methodist, Lutheran, and Anglican (Catholic+Reformed) theologies. In the 20th century, churches that considered themselves "evangelical" in theology and practice (conversionism, biblicism, crucicentrism, activism), but more high church than low church, unified in the Evangelical Episcopal Church. It can best be described as combining Protestant evangelical theology, with a more Catholic form of the liturgy. Some churches who were less evangelical resisted the merger, either returning to the Catholic Church or forming independent congregations. They recognize two sacraments (though they allow for the practice of all seven) and affirm the Apocrypha as "useful, but not God-breathed".

Union of Congregational Churches

Following the repeal of the Protestant tax in the years leading up to the 20th century, many new Protestant churches emerged in Pluvia and the Saxean Isles. Although independent Protestant churches existed before the repeal, the number exploded post-repeal. Many of these churches were independent, but in the 20th century, they saw the advantage of sharing resources and coordinating their efforts. They therefore formed the Union of Congregational Churches. The UCC is congregational in polity and embraces theologies associated with the Baptist and United Church of Christ denominations outside of Pluvia and the Saxean Isles. Therefore, they are low church in practice, believe in a symbolic rather than literal or spiritual Eucharist, and practice adult baptism. Some churches are more conservative, while others are more progressive, but since each church is allowed independence, they co-exist within the denomination.