关于陈垣是否宗教徒,此前学界一直未有定论。从教会档案、民国期刊以及胡适的回忆等各种资料可以佐证,陈垣是北京缸瓦市教会基督教徒。在缸瓦市教会他是一位威望甚高的教友,对教会管理事务有一定参与;在基督教界他对中国基督教教会的改造和本色化均有关注,也有亲身参与,但主要是以授课或者演讲的方式间接参与。从陈垣的散佚文章和著作的部分早期版本,可以看到他对基督教信仰的表达、他的宗教经验及有关于“罪”的信仰告白等,这些也进一步印证了他的基督教信仰。
There is no definite conclusion on Chen Yuan' s religious identity in academia before, but evidences from church archives,periodicals in Republican Period, and memories of Hu Shi all led to the fact that Chen Yuan was a Christian. In Beijing Gang Washi Church, he was a Christian of high prestige, and took part in administrative work. In the circle of Christians, he was concerned and participated in the reform and the indigenization of Chinese churches in his own ways, such as teaching and giving lectures. In his rare papers and some early editions of his works, there were clear expression of his faith, his religious experiences, and his statement of “sin”, all those confirmed his Christian faith.