The Holiness churches grew out of a renewal of interest in the 18th century teachings of John Wesley in the late-19th century.

Wesley had taught that the Christian life was one of growing in grace, leading to the attainment of perfection, which he called sanctification. As Wesley and the early Methodists preached from town to town, they stressed that Christians should practice holiness and ethics in their day-to-day living, and encouraged them to seek perfection, defining the state of perfection as the absence of sin.

As Wesley accumulated more and more followers, he came under criticism from those who had noted that Wesley's followers still exhibited imperfections. Later, Wesley and the Methodist churches backed away from the idea that perfectionism involved the absence of sin, focusing instead on conversion and church growth.

In the late 1800s, some of the churches who held strongly onto the teachings of perfection from sin broke away from the Methodists, beginning the Holiness movement. Several churches divided, setting up storefront churches. Over time, many of these congregations joined to form denominations.

Phoebe Palmer was a prominent Holiness evangelist and author who promoted the idea of Christian perfection. She and her husband, Dr. Walter Palmer, were both Methodists who shared a particular interest in the belief that a Christian could live a life free of sin. Phoebe began holding weekly prayer meetings with Methodist women at her home, which she enlarged in order to accommodate the growing interest. Men were later invited also, including bishops, theologians, and ministers. The Palmers' movement spread throughout the northeastern United States, then into Canada and the United Kingdom. They stayed in the UK for several years.

Although the Palmers were Methodists, the new emphasis on sanctification led to tensions between advocates and detractors. Many of the Holiness churches were forced to leave the Methodists, forming Holiness congregations, some of which joined to form denominations such as the Church of the Nazarene and the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana). Others of the older Methodist bodies identified with the Holiness movement, while the larger Methodist bodies backed further away from Holiness teachings.

The Holiness movement also found support in the Quaker communities, where it now forms one of the branches of the Society of Friends. Some of the Mennonite bodies were also influenced by the Holiness movement.

Generally, Holiness teachings identify the experience of sanctification with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the acceptance of women into the pulpit. Other Christians, influenced by Holiness, came to change the emphasis on the baptism of the Spirit from sanctification to speaking in tongues, and these were instrumental in bringing about the Pentecostal movement.

Although holiness and sanctification are part of the beliefs of several Christian churches, the Holiness churches are distinguished from the others by a stricter standard of holiness.

Some of the Holiness churches that exist today include the Apostolic Overcoming Holy Church of God, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Church of Christ (Holiness), Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), Church of God (Holiness), Church of the Nazarene, Churches of Christ in Christian Union, Churches of God, General Conference, New Apostolic Church of North America, and the Wesleyan Church.

Less prominent Holiness bodies include Bible Holiness Church, the Bible Holiness Movement, Bible Missionary Church, Brethren in Christ Church, Christ's Holy Sanctified Church of America, Christ's Sanctified Holy Church, Church of God (Sanctified), Emmanuel Association, Evangelical Church of North America, God's Missionary Church, Gospel Spreading Church, Grace and Hope Mission, International Fellowship of Bible Churches, Kentucky Mountain Holiness Association, Metropolitan Church Association, Missionary Church, National Association of Holiness Churches, New Testament Church of God, Oriental Missionary Society Holiness Church of North America, Pilgrim Holiness Church, Pillar of Fire, and Redeemed Church of God.

Other denominations that can be defined as Holiness churches may be categorized elsewhere. For example, the Methodists are listed in their own category here, which includes also the Salvation Army and some other Methodist bodies that may have retained a degree of Holiness principles. The Holiness Friends are listed among other Quaker branches, and the Apostolic Christian Churches are Mennonite. The Pentecostals also have their own category.

The focus of this category is on the Holiness denominations, particularly those that are not more strongly associated with another Christian body, as mentioned here. Holiness denominations not mentioned here may also be submitted to this category, as this may not be a complete list.

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