Roots & Branches
How Christian Denominations Developed
A simplified family tree of the major Christian traditions.
Tap any tradition to see its story — or search to trace its lineage back to the early church.
Note
This chart is simplified. Many traditions share overlapping roots, and not every movement is shown.
Rows follow lines of descent rather than a strict timeline, so a tradition sits below the one it came from even when a movement further down began earlier.