Waldenses

Waldenses, or Waldensians, reforming Christian sect founded by Peter Waldo in Lyons, France, in the 12th century. They preached poverty, rejected the papacy, and took the Bible as their sole authority, for which they were excommunicated (1184) and persecuted. The survivors united with the Protestants in the Reformation. The Waldensian Church still exists, with several offshoots in the United States.

See also: Protestantism.