The Reformed Presbyterian Church of Equatorial Guinea (in Spanish Iglesia Reformada Presbiteriana de Guinea Ecuatorial, IRPGE) is a minority church in Equatorial Guinea. It is reformed by its theology and presbyterian by its form of government, as stated in its constitution. The principal religion in Equatorial Guinea is Christianity, with approximately 85–93% of the population as followers. Most Christians belong to the Roman Catholic Church (80–87%) while a minority are Protestants (5–7%). Another 5% of the population follow indigenous beliefs, 2% are Muslims, followers of Baha'i and other beliefs. History Origins A group of missionaries from the Presbyterian Church in the USA (Synod of New Jersey) settled on the island of Corisco in the Gulf of Guinea in 1850. From there they moved to the mainland where they founded the first congregation in Bolondo (now Mbini). They spread into the interior of the continent setting up more congregations as well as schools and clinics, as they had in the coastal area. In 1900, France yielded the territory of Rio Muni (mainland of Equatorial Guinea) to Spain. This resulted in the establishment of the Roman Catholic Church, marked by an attitude of inquisition when the Reformed Church had to face many difficulties. Intolerance and persecution produced an unavoidable change in the circumstances of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Spanish Guinea, which had to give up its schools and medical work. In 1924, all its missionaries were obliged to leave the country. To revitalize the work, the American Presbyterian Mission sent a missionary couple to Equatorial Guinea in 1932. This couple was strongly engaged with the organisation of a dynamic Women's Association, which up until today remains an important part of the church. In 1936, the Youth Association was set up. In 1952, the Spanish government, which was close to the Catholic hierarchy, closed all the Protestant churches, allowing only those that existed before the establishment of Francoist Spain to re-open. In 1957, the presbytery of Rio Muni joined the Presbyterian Church of Cameroon (Église Presbyteriènne Camerounaise - EPC) as part of the regional MUNICAM synod (Muni & Cameroon). A year later, it withdrew for reasons to do with the process of decolonization, and integrated with the Synod of New Jersey (USA). Several American missionaries worked in the church during this period, but left in 1968, shortly before independence. Between 1936 and 1962 the church was strengthened by the activities of a