The history of Christianity can seem dauntingly complex: it covers two thousand years and involves virtually every corner of the earth. It has shaped the world as we know it today. The Essential History of Christianity covers both the key historical events and the big picture. Miranda Threlfall-Holmes helps us to understand what has gone on in the past, and sheds light on our present experiences of churches, religion, spirituality and religious conflict. She also gives important clues about what might happen in the future. This entertaining and accessible guide makes sense of a fascinating subject, providing a clear overview of the broad sweep of Christian history, and is indispensible for those beginning to study Christianity or the Church.

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes

Cover

Author information

Title page

Imprint

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Christian beginnings: to c. 300

2. The imperial Church: c. 300–450

3. European conversion: c. 450–1000

4. Western Christendom: c. 1000–1500

5. Beyond Western Christendom: c. 1000–1500

6. Reformation and Counter-Reformation: c. 1500–1600

7. The longest Reformation: the Church of England, c. 1400–1700

8. The modern period: c. 1700–1900

9. Globalizing Christianity: c. 1500–1900

10. Conclusion: Christianity after c. 1900

References and suggestions for further reading

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Threlfall-Holmes, Miranda

__The Essential History of Christianity covers both the key historical events and the big picture.__

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes helps us to understand what has gone on in the past, and sheds light on our present experiences of churches, religion, spirituality and religious conflict. She also gives important clues about what might happen in the future.

This entertaining and accessible guide makes sense of a fascinating subject, providing a clear overview of the broad sweep of Christian history, and is indispensible for those beginning to study Christianity or the Church.

Based on a series of lectures given to the Newcastle Diocese Reader and Ordained Lay Ministry Training Course, this book introduces the reader to church history in an accessible and relevant way, with an emphasis on key periods that have made the church what it is today, and on what we can learn from past experience for mission and ministry today.

Based on a series of lectures given to the Newcastle Diocese Reader and Ordained Lay Ministry Training Course, this book introduces the reader to church history in an accessible and relevant way, with an emphasis on key periods (from Christian beginnings to the present day) that have made the church what it is today, and on what we can learn from past experience for mission and ministry today.

The Revd Miranda Threlfall-Holmes is Chaplain and Solway Fellow of University College, Durham. She has first class degrees in history from Cambridge, and theology from Durham, and her doctoral thesis about Durham Cathedral Priory was published by OUP. She was a curate in Newcastle before her present post, and has been involved in ordination and lay theological training in Durham and Newcastle Dioceses for several years. She is the author, with Mark Newitt, of Being a Chaplain (SPCK, 2011).

The Good Book Stall

Here is two thousand years of Christian history condensed into 140 pages! That may seem an impossible task but Miranda Threlfall-Holmes has produced a highly readable book that surveys the whole Christian era in a broad sweep with essential, but not too much detail. As an introduction to Christian history it would be very useful on a church bookstall or in a church library. It shows us where we have come from and why we have arrived where we are now, as well as giving clues about what might happen in the future. Unlike many church histories, this is very accessible, clearly written, easily read and highly informative.

The Essential History of Christianity

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The Essential History of Christianity

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