Ulrich Zwingli and the Reformation in Zurich

In the heart of Zurich, on the banks of the Limmat River, stands the imposing Grossmünster Church. Although the city is now renowned for its financial prowess and cultural sophistication, it was once the stage for one of the most influential religious movements in Europe: the Reformation. This story begins in the early 16th century with Ulrich Zwingli, a young priest who would leave an indelible mark on the city and the world. 

Ulrich Zwingli was born in 1484 in the small village of Wildhaus, deep in the Swiss Alps. As the son of a shepherd, he grew up in a humble environment, but his intellectual gifts quickly became evident. He studied theology and classical languages in Basel, Bern, and Vienna, where he encountered the humanism of Erasmus—a philosophy that would deeply influence his later critique of the Catholic Church. 

In 1519, Zwingli arrived in Zurich, where he was appointed as a preacher at the Grossmünster Church. Here, he began delivering sermons directly based on the Bible, rather than on the traditional teachings of the Church. He criticized the sale of indulgences, which allowed sinners to buy forgiveness, and the veneration of relics, which he considered superstitious. His message was radical: true religion should be based on Scripture, not on church traditions. 

Zwingli’s ideas resonated in Zurich, where the city council supported him. In 1523, the council organized a public debate between Zwingli and local Catholic clergy. Zwingli’s intellectual strength and persuasive arguments won the day, and Zurich officially became a Reformed city. Changes followed rapidly: monasteries were dissolved, saints’ images were removed, and the Mass was replaced with simple services centered on the Bible. Priests were allowed to marry, and Latin was abandoned in favor of German so that everyone could understand the Scriptures. 

Not everyone in Switzerland embraced these reforms. Several Catholic cantons fiercely resisted Zurich. This led to tensions and eventually to the Kappel Wars. In 1531, during the second war, Zwingli was killed on the battlefield while serving as a field chaplain. His death marked the end of his personal influence but not of his ideas. 

The Reformation in Zurich had a lasting impact. It laid the foundation for Swiss Protestantism and influenced reformers like John Calvin, whose teachings would spread across the world. Today, the Grossmünster serves as a reminder of this era, a monument to both Zwingli and the city that dared to change.