The initial encounters between Europeans and Latin Americans

Religious traditions clashed in Latin America 

Worship, devotion, and folk religion in Latin America

Protestantism and power in nineteenth-century Latin America

The many roles of women in Latin American Christianity

Mistaken identity, apostolic number, the tenth muse, and Calvin’s hope

Readers respond to Christian History

The desires, faith, and practices of elite colonizers, politicians, and church bureaucrats opposed those of the poor, enslaved, and oppressed.

Slavery and Christianity in colonial Latin America

Map of indiginous groups when Europeans arrived in the new world

The Virgin of Guadalupe

A map of colonial Latin America about 1800.

Christianity in Latin America has a rich and complicated, history encompassing many different countries, traditions, and political situations. This timeline offers a brief introduction to both church (in bold) and state (in italic).

Map of Central and South America in the twentieth century

How Pentecostalism spread in Latin America and the Caribbean 

The role of religion in Latin America remains strong, and religious voices on all sides can be heard amid current political debates. 

The story of Medellín

Fascinating stories from 500 years of Latin American Christianity

In 2013 Francis became the first pope from Latin America

Diversity and complexity mark today’s Latin American church

Here are recommendations from CH editorial staff and this issue’s authors that begin to explore the complex subject of Latin American Christianity.