Waldensian

The Waldensians began in the late twelfth century as the Poor of Lyon, followers of Peter Waldo, a wealthy merchant who gave away his property around 1173 and preached apostolic poverty and lay preaching. Excommunicated in 1184, they were declared heretics in 1215 for refusing to accept the bishops' control over preaching.

The movement spread to the Cottian Alps, where preachers called barbas met small secret congregations. Persecution never ceased, and Pope Innocent VIII issued a bull in 1487 ordering their extermination.

At the Synod of Chanforan in 1532 the Waldensians joined the Reformed tradition and began to worship openly in French. Massacres followed, notably the Piedmont Easter of 1655. In 1689 their pastor Henri Arnaud led the exiles in the Glorious Return to their valleys.