Introduction to Church History

The history of the church is inextricably linked to the history of Christianity - that
amazing account of how the belief of a handful of persecuted believers in Jerusalem
2,000 years ago would expand into a worldwide faith, stranger today than ever before!
Why do we need to study church history? - Does it matter?
1.It is His Story - when we know the history of the church we get a greater sense of its
destiny and ours. The past is full of treasure and is full of the Lord's working in lives,
not just our narrow human record. God is the one who empowered and called mighty
men and women who brought revival to change the world.
2.The history of the church shows the moving of God's Spirit among His people. The
Holy y Spirit has not left Himself without witness in any generation, and has never
been inactive in any period. Even in the 'dark ages' the presence of the living Christ
has been recognized, adored and obeyed in every place by pockets of believers. There
have always been 2 elements struggling to keep a proper relationship -the tension
between God's people, born of the Spirit “the church invisible” and “the church as it
really is before God” (Calvin) “and the church visible” – the institutional
organization.
3. The history of the church should be a help to faith, not hindrance as we can look to
the cross where human history is on display so to speak, when we see the power of the
cross to change us but the sinful actions of man throughout history. Until Christ's
return, the story of any activity of man will be a sorry one but the wonder is that
Christianity has transformed so many people and become a force that has impacted
the world. Down through the ages the church has suffered periods of decay and
stagnation only to explode into renewal, reformation and revival, praise to our God!
Church History: A Simple Chronology Church history is rather complex, but an
understanding of the basics is very worthwhile. The following is a simple chronology
of church history adapted from Bruce Shelley's Church History in Plain Language:
(30-70 AD) The Time of Jesus and the Apostles
The death and resurrection of Christ. The Christian faith is birthed and the gospel of
grace is preached.
(70-312) The Age of Catholic Christianity
The spread of the Christian faith; martyrdom of the early believers. Early heresies
sprouted; first church councils and the canonizing of scripture.
(312-590) The Age of the Christian Empire
Constantine declares Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire; Age of
great councils. Christianity became a faith for the masses; start of Monasticism.
(590-1517) The Middle Ages
The fall of Rome and the Byzantine empire. Benedictine monks deployed as
missionaries; the pope becomes the "ruler" of the church. The crusades: The church
gains the world but looses it soul.
(1517-1648) The Age of Reformation
Martin Luther and the protestant movement. The start of denominationalism -
Examples: Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist and Anglican. The papacy looses it power
and influence.
(1648-1789) The Age of Reason and Revival
Secularism -- The mind becomes god; people begin to ask, "Who needs God?"
Revivals such as Pietism, Methodism and the Great Awakening seek to restore God to
public life.
(1789-1914) The Age of Progress
The message of Christ is carried to distant lands, but the faith continues to leave
public life. Pluralistic and totalitarian societies see no relevance for Christianity.
(1912-Current) The Age of Ideologies...
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For the purposes of this study we will look at 6 periods of church history
First Period - Beginnings of the Church - AD 30 to AD 500
Age of Advance to Age of Acceptance
Christianity expands The church was “born” just 7 weeks after Jesus' death and
resurrection, when the gospel was boldly proclaimed (see book of Acts). From a
group of 12 men the church grew to 120 then 3,000 then 5,000 (Acts 2:42). By
evangelization the church expanded from Jerusalem to Rome, until 30 years later
Christianity was over spread most parts of the Roman Empire.
Why did Christianity spread so rapidly?
1 Relative peace and prosperity of time
2. Freedom of movement - good Roman roads and rapid transport...just 8 days from
Rome to London
3. Common language – Latin and Greek
4. All were active in spreading Christian message - slave & freeman, man & woman,
Jew and Greek All were followers of “The Way”.
5. Public preaching - one of the greatest missionaries was Paul of Tarsus.
Features of Early Church
1. Church met in small, house-based gatherings until the third century -were first
called Christians at Antioch. The first deviations from the faith came in Gnosticism -
this -group- believed that one could only be saved through a secret knowledge of God
- see Simon the Magician in Acts 8. Therefore early Christian leaders tried to set
down exactly what was taught by the apostles. The church fathers identified certain
writings as genuinely apostolic; hence New Testament was collected by AD 100.
2. As “Jesus Movement” grew and spread came pressures to develop its structure and
leadership. Christianity began to acquire a recognizable shape through offices of
bishop, presbytery and deacon; instruction of new converts before baptism; regular
meetings and love-feasts. Christians were described as 'extraordinary people'.
Who led the first churches? The apostles and others gifted with evangelistic and
prophetic ministry e.g. Irenaeus, Tertullian, Cuprian, Ignatius.
Persecution
The first intensive effort to eliminate Christians by the State came in AD 64 by
Emperor Nero, after burning of Rome.
Reasons for persecution were obscure - accusations of cannibalism, atheism and
incest – arising from a total misunderstanding of the Lord's Supper, lack of images
and “love for one another” but mostly regarded rejection of Roman gods as treason.
However the church continued to grow not without challenges from within (dealt with
by Paul in 1 Corinthians), and in spite of persecution, praise God! The Book of
Revelation was written AD 95 at time of persecution. (See Revelation 2:1-7 Church of
Ephesus, Revelation 2:8-11 Church of Smyrna).
In many parts of the Roman Empire, Christians willingly died for their belief in a
Saviour who set captives free and changed lives that were formally enslaved in all
manner of destructive and fruitless human pursuits.
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The Church at Rome played a special role. Why?

1. All roads led to Rome, capital of empire. 2. Rome only “western” church: which
received a letter from an apostle. (PAUL) 3. Apostles Peter & Paul both martyred
there. Rome built its claim to lead Christian world based on succession of Peter (Matt
16:18). 4. Other prominent Christians martyred in Rome - e.g.: Justin and Polycarp
"for 86 years I have been God's servant and He has never done me wrong. How can I
blaspheme my King who has saved me.”
Christianity made official religion 312 A.D.
When emperor Constantine made Christianity official faith of the Roman Empire,
this led to conflict with Pagan customs e.g.: December 25th was the sun worshipper’s
day. Also at this time cult of saints and martyrs grew, with an attendant superstitious
search for relics, e.g. saints bones, shards of the cross etc.
There now came a radical outward change in the church - really the fall of the church
from apostolic purity to new direction.
Emperor Constantine got involved in doctrinal disputes and ordered what was to be or
not to be believed. Un-baptized and probably unconverted he really was first “anti-
Christ” - i.e.: in place of Christ, pseudo-Christ. He transferred the capital to Rome and
established himself as supreme head of Christianity.
Sunday observance made possible larger congregations as Christians already meeting
on Sunday and pagans now co-opted. Formality and ceremony in worship was a
distinctive feature now as was Latin replacing Greek as language of worship;
believers baptism declined and infant baptism became normal; bishops became landed
gentry and traditional church buildings built. See Revelation. 2:12-17 the Emperor
really stumbled godly men as Balak had stumbled Israel e.g.: Nicolations permitted
immorality in church.
During the 4th and 5th centuries, Christianity was the dominant religion of the
Mediterranean world. From Ireland in the west to Ethiopia in the southeast, people
throughout the world had converted to the new Christian faith. Only one century later,
the extent of Christianity would change drastically due to the spread of a new religion,
Islam.
© Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
1
Key Figures at this time: Basil the Great: who promoted monastic life. Columba of
Ireland, who converted Druids of Scotland Patrick greatest missionary to Irish, came
from Roman Britain and was converted in France and called to evangelize Ireland.
Arius who introduced belief that Jesus was not eternal but a created being (Jehovah's
Witness today). Jerome who translated Hebrew and Greek Bible to Latin, which was
to become the first printed Bible in 1456. Leo the Great: was first Pope, established
himself as Peter's successor.
1
"Christianity in the 4th and 5th Centuries," Microsoft® Encarta® Encyclopedia 2000. © 1993-1999
Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Conclusion of this Period:

Christianity was now firmly established and had spread into Nth Africa and West
Asia. It was on the brink of victory to bring Christianity to the fore in the world and
following Jesus' command to go and preach the gospel to all men but Christianity had
lost its original zeal and simplicity of the early days somewhat in 300 years. Now an
institutional church with roots of division into Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox.
Second Period Fall of the Roman Empire and decay and stagnation of Church -
AD 500 - AD 1200
AD 450: Germanic Tribes invaded Roman Empire and the Christian Church remained
only link with Roman past. At this time the church seemed to be in retreat, the
previous spectacular progress (see map of advance of churches) and aggressive
evangelism had dwindled. The church of North Africa had been great but was now
lost to a new and dynamic religious movement called Islam, founded by the 'prophet'
Mohammed - 632.
Christianity largely stagnated for nearly 500 years. The year 1000 ushered in the
darkest century intellectually and morally, in Christian history when Popes claimed to
be superior to all men. Psalm 46:3.
Gregory the Great brought the first teaching on Purgatory...this is the theology that
that sinful man, when dead must be purged from sin by fire for centuries before
entering heaven. Families of the deceased, by making payments to the church could
reduce their loved one’s time in Purgatory.
Renewal came through monasticism e.g.: Waldensians who were followers of Peter
Waldo. They set the atmosphere for change when many of their beliefs e.g.: rejection
of clergy as intermediary; preaching from Bible in local language; conversion
experience to Christ, - would later enter mainstream of Protestant movement. - e.g.:
Francis of Assisi and his followers (Franciscan monks) who ministered to the poor
and needy and were declared as heretics by the Pope
These monastic orders were dedicated to spiritual renewal and church reform and
helped prepare a base for raising the spiritual level of the church and new missionary
movement through Northern and Eastern Europe. They stressed a return to apostolic
Christianity based upon Bible teaching. The medieval Catholic Church responded by
repression and persecution.
Crusades conducted 1095 - 1244 against Turks were the journeys of Christian armies
(tragically sometimes consisting of children) to recover the Holy Land from the
Muslims. In small and large expeditions, in victories and defeats Muslim rule
prevailed, and the Crusades failed.
In England 1066 King William of Normandy set up the office of Archbishop of
Canterbury.
In 1040 there were 3 rival Popes, all claiming to be Peter's successors. At this time
priests were married and had concubines.
Leo 9th reformed Papacy in new move; Gregory 7th wanted full control over church
and state. Doctrine was if the shed blood of Christ saves, then the communion will
save and no faith is needed, only a Pope.
Pope Innocent 3rd called himself Vicar of Christ, made papacy even more powerful.
He confirmed the shameful isolation of Jews from society, confining them to live in
ghettos and requiring that they wear a special badge.
In conclusion, from 8th century it was apparent that something was radically wrong
with the Catholic Church with its widespread corruption, ignorance and sexual
immorality. However, God was still working in the lives of individuals and there was
much hidden devotion among people who loved God. e.g.: Francis of Assisi and his
followers.
THIRD PERIOD Age of Renaissance and Antagonism - AD 1300 - 1500
The two major threats at this time for people who lived in Europe were the bubonic
plague and threat of Turkish invasion. Some preachers regarded both as a scourge of
God to punish the failings of the Roman Catholic Church. One third of the inhabitants
of Europe died in 1347 from the “Black Death” - it was a death-oriented society. Also
the Muslim Turks began their advance into Europe. This was a time of cultural
change also, a type of golden age of classical thinking. Renaissance means 'rebirth' in
art and writings, e.g.: Michelangelo, da Vinci.
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Voyages of discovery were made by explorers such as Vasco da Gama to India and
Columbus to America, looking for the “world beyond”.
At this time there was widespread ignorance due to lack of public education the
priests of the medieval church interpreted scripture in a fanciful way. Mystical false
writings flourished for 400 years with little reference to Hebrew or Greek as the
Bible's truth lay buried and obscured. 2 brilliant men who argued for the Christian
faith in the face of a return to humanist Greek thinking were Peter Abelard and
Thomas Aquinas.
This was the time of the pioneering of the printing press, which enabled the spread of
Luther's writings to the public and prepared the way for the Reformation (compare
Roman Empire and spread of gospel). This was an age of unrest, God was obviously
stirring His people as many turned to the Bible for guidance and began to look for a
reformed Catholicism.
Key Figures
Jan Hus - a Czech martyr for church reform.
Savanarola - the original 'open-air campaigner' he was an Italian preacher of reform
who was a
John Wyclif - the English reformer who translated the Latin Bible to English in 1384
and pave hanged on special gallows made for them on roadside. Thomas a Kempis
was a German monk who wrote "Imitation of Christ" which was searching, scriptural
and utterly centered on Christ.
Erasmus of Rotterdam published New Testament edition in Greek, which forms basis
for our Authorized Version.
Famous Christian Women
1373 Bridget of Sweden and Catherine of Sienna who founded orders based on
selflessness and spiritual service.
Lady Julian of Norwich wrote “Revelation of Divine Love”.
It appears that God was doing a special work in individuals as He was preparing for
something mighty up ahead and He needed Key figures to carry it through. These
fore-runners were as much a part of the Reformation as the others although they never
realized it.
Fourth Period - Age of Reformation 1500 - 1600
The day reform began was the 31st October 1517 when Martin Luther, a professor of
religious studies (Master of Arts and Sacred Theology) in Wittenberg, Germany,
nailed “95 Theses” on door of Castle Church This was a protest against abuses and
practices of error in church, mainly the selling of indulgences which was wholly
unscriptural.
Luther sought God and discovered one is “justified by faith in Christ alone”
(Galatians 3:11) and therefore no need for any mediator like the priest or departed
saints.
Luther intended to reform the church from within but really split Europe in two and
Christian Europe was never the same again. The reformers were not innovators as the
Pope accused them but renovators - what they removed were the medieval traditions
of Rome in favour of the doctrines of the Bible.
The Reformation was established on the following principals:
Sola fide, justification by faith alone; sola Scriptura, Scripture as the only sufficient
and infallible rule of faith and practice for the church; sola gratia, salvation solely by
divine grace; and solo Christo, Christ alone as the Head of the church and the sole
mediator between God and man.
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The Puritans were English Reformers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They
were frustrated by the slow progress of the Reformation in the Anglican Church. They
left a legacy of theological writing that is unsurpassed in church history. Their
doctrine tended to be Calvinistic and Presbyterian
3 Great Principles of the Reformation:
1. God's word is the first and final authority.
2. By God's grace alone is salvation.
3. Every believer is a priest.
John Calvin (1509-64) encountered Luther's teaching and was converted in
Switzerland-. A man with an intense love for God, he believed that all knowledge of
God could only be found in the Word of God. He also believed in predestination i.e.:
before earth was created God chose some of its inhabitants to have salvation and
others to be destroyed. He believed in the final authority of God and that God has
everything under control -how close and fundamental this is to our belief!
These two men were not perfect! - Luther believed that babies were “born again” at
infant baptism. Calvin had more than one opponent burnt at the stake for opposing his
teaching. But through them and the division they caused in the church, came further
expansion of Christianity. Renewal and reform cane at the cost of the break up of
religious unity in Western Europe but was basis of modern religious freedom. Most
denominations were born out of a search for truth rather then strife. Luther became
father of Protestantism (so called because of taking the stand of protest) and also
founder of the Lutheran church.
Calvin's work gave rise to the Presbyterian Church in Scotland and Netherlands and
Puritan movement in England and America.
Geneva became the Protestant Rome. Catholic traditions were rejected e.g.: authority
of Pope, mediator by Virgin Mary, purgatory, confession to priest, celibacy, use of
Latin and all paraphernalia (holy water, rosaries, images, candles).
Other Key Figures:
John Bunyan was a successful Calvinist preacher who was imprisoned and who wrote
“The Pilgrim's Progress” - it is the most read book next to the Bible.
Wi11iam Tyndale: revered as the father of the English Reformation. He translated the
New Testament into English, reported to have said to a priest “I will cause a boy who
drives a plough to know more of the scriptures than you do.” He was strangled and
burnt – in 1536 the Bible had been banned from the common people, but 3 years after
Tyndale's death King Henry 8th ordered a copy to be placed in every parish. 90% of
his translation is in the King James Version and 75% in the Revised Standard
Version.
Fluent in at least 7 languages, he translated much of the Bible into English from the
original Greek and Hebrew sources. (Earlier, John Wycliffe had worked from
Jerome's Latin 'Vulgate'.) In doing so he gave the English language many of its best-
known phrases.
At that time, translating the Bible from Latin was considered heretical. Tyndale fled
to Germany in 1524, later to Belgium. He continued his work, translating the New
Testament in 1526 and again in 1534. Eventually, he was betrayed to the authorities.
He was strangled, and his dead body was burnt, on 6 October 1536.
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Indeed, the fires never ceased to blaze whilst Mary was alive, and five martyrs were
burnt in Canterbury only a week before her death. Out of these 288 sufferers, be it
remembered, one was an archbishop, four were bishops, twenty-nine were clergymen,
fifty-five were women, and four were children. It is a broad fact that these 288
sufferers were not put to death for any offence against property or person. They were
not rebels against the Queen's authority, caught red-handed in arms. They were not
thieves, or murderers, or drunkards, or unbelievers, or men and women of immoral
lives. On the contrary, they were, with barely an exception, some of the holiest,
purest, and best Christians in England, and several of them the most learned men of
their day.
About this time the Anabaptists were interested in restoring the church to its vigor and
faithfulness of centuries earlier, they wanted a return to the roots of faith and went
further than Luther and Calvin, believing the church consisted only of those who
confessed Christ in baptism.
In England Baptists emerged from Church of England influenced by Anabaptist
concept of restitution of Christianity. Today Baptists are most numerous Protestant
denomination in world.
The Reformation spiritually revitalized The English Church. Initially separated by
King Henry 8th the church conformed to 'a middle way' between 2 extremes of
Catholicism and Protestantism. The Anglican Church was never as significant, except
in countries of the British Empire and Commonwealth, as the Puritan Movement,
which deeply influenced much of British and American churches. Its goal was to
purify the Church of England of its “Popish trappings” and to be governed by
Presbyters (elders) not the king and bishops.
The Puritans tried to make an established state church joining in the English
Revolution in 1642 to overthrow the royal authority but failed with death of 0liver
Cromwell. Cromwell was responsible for the mass slaughter of Roman Catholics in
Ireland – “the people of the anti-Christ” he called them, and the result of this can be
seen in the Irish wars until today.
Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the English Houses of Parliament in 1605; this was
Roman Catholic terrorism. In November 1605, a group of Catholics, led by Robert
Catesby, hid 36 barrels of gunpowder in a cellar under Parliament House. One of the
plotters warned a friend, Lord Monteagle, a Catholic peer, to stay away from the State
Opening. On 5 November Monteagle and the Lord Chamberlain investigated the
cellars and came upon a man, who gave his name as Guy Fawkes, piling wood. The
man claimed that the wood belonged to his master, Lord Percy. They let him go but
on closer inspection they discovered the barrels of gunpowder. When Fawkes returned
at midnight to make final preparations for the explosion, he was arrested.
Counter Reformation:
What was the Catholic Church’s response to the Reformation?
The Inquisition was revived, which was the use of terror and torture to obtain
confessions - object was to deter spread of Protestant faith. The Church ordered civil
authorities to carry inquisition out. Many millions of people died, more than Jews in
World War 2 - they were hanged, beheaded, burned or buried alive for crimes of
heresy. Confessions were held before a special court to judge intentions as well as
actions. This had little impact in England or Germany. Pope Leo 10th said about
Luther – “friar Martin is drunk - he will feel different when he sobers”. This Pope
spent most of his time advancing his own family fortunes - the Medici’s of Florence.
He still maintained the Roman Catholic was the only true church.
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It’s a harsh fact that during the last four years of Queen Mary's rein no less than 288
persons were burnt at the stake for their adhesion to the Protestant faith.
In 1555 there were burnt: 71
In 1556 there were burnt: 89
In 1557 there were burnt: 88
In 1558 there were burnt: 40
As from the beginning we see 2 sides to the church - as in the Book of Acts with
Sapphira and Ananias were the Popes of Rome (frauds and charlatans) compared to
quest for truth and holiness from apostles to Luther and Calvin.
Note: There has always been a movement of Holy Spirit in the Catholic Church
through its History.
Theresa of Avila and John of the Cross These 2 Catholic mystics emphasized a
personal relationship with God and reformed monasteries and convents back to
simplicity. Ignatius of Layola: who founded the Jesuits - many lost their lives for the
cause, (1,000 martyrs) They recaptured large areas for the Catholic church in Spain
and Italy, were tough and devout, missionary expansion in new areas e.g. Francis
Xavier to India and Japan.
Fifth Period -Age of Aspiration and Reason 1650 - 1790
This period saw advances in science which sometimes brought conflict with church
thinking eg: Galileo the Italian astronomer and physicist argued that the planets
revolve around the sun - a theory which brought him into conflict with the Inquisition,
after which time he lived under house arrest until his death.
e.g.: Sir Isaac Newton the great English scientist is best remembered for his law of
gravity. He believed that his scientific discoveries were communicated to him by the
Holy Spirit and regarded the understanding of scripture as more important than his
scientific work. He encouraged the belief that human enquiries into nature, unaided by
Scripture could demonstrate the wisdom and power of the Creator.
State of the Church - After the Reformation the church had become scholarly, tolerant
and boring. Persecution had played a direct part in the extension of Christianity to
North America. Many early settlers like Pilgrim fathers who sailed on 'Mayflower' in
1620, desired freedom of worship as well as a better life.
In 1650 George Fox led Quakers - later to become 'Society of friends'. He spent years
searching for truth while often advised to 'try tobacco', 'sing psalms', 'get married', 'try
blood-letting. He was born again and sentenced to prison for blasphemy for claiming
Christ as His savior. The judge scorned him as a Quaker or Trembler, and the
nickname stuck.
The early preachers were spirit-filled, like Old Testament prophets and missionary
minded especially among Eskimo and indigenous people.
Time of Awakening:
Many felt that Christianity at this time was in a permanent decline and would never
recover. There was a dissatisfaction with the coldness of the established church, the
collapse of personal faith and need for a move of the Holy Spirit. They did not take
into account the mighty hand of God to touch hearts again! There was a desire to
return to apostolic Christianity in these new movements in the midst of a spiritually
dead period. The smoldering flame of God began to break into flame!
Revivals started in Germany and spread throughout Europe - also followed same
pattern in Britain and North America. It was a time of revolution in Europe and it is
generally acknowledged that evangelical revival and religious commitment saved
England from a French revolution.
In Europe the leader of revival was Count von Zinzendorf who emphasized the
simplicity of the New Testament church and the necessity of a personal conversion.
Out of a deep concern for missions and evangelism he founded the Moravian church
for missionary activity to Tibet, Africa, South America -these dedicated souls even
sold themselves into slavery in West Indies.
In England - John and Charles Wesley returned to England after an unsuccessful
mission to the US.met some Moravian missionaries on ship and were born again
1737. Both were powerful preachers, both evangelists and founders of Methodist
movement. John was 'apostle' of England. His goal was for all people to hear the good
news. Therefore he traveled and preached where people were, averaging 8,000 miles a
year on horseback, in the market and on streets. Also invented the religious tract. His
converts were many thousands and needed shepherding. Wesley organized them into
assemblies, taught the teachers and moved on.
John and Charles never intended to leave the Church of England but their style of
preaching outraged clergy and pulpits were closed to them. They were used mightily
of God in revival with a far-reaching influence over the whole world.
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Note: It is out of the Wesleyan Revival that the Pentecostal Movement came.
In United States - Jonathan Edwards was instrumental in the Great Awakening, which
was of major proportions. Here too, the decay in the orthodox church led to a desire
for greater spiritual reality and broke into a flame of revival which touched every
denomination in New England states.
In Edward's words - "the Spirit of God began extraordinarily to set in souls came by
floods to Jesus Christ and the number of true saints multiplied."
George Whitefield in 1740 his 6-week tour of England set off a revival. A man with a
rare passion for souls, he preached with a dynamic, compelling style; he was gifted
with an astonishing voice range; his open-air services were often interrupted. "The
reason why congregations have been so dead is because dead men preach to them."
George Whitefield, the great preacher of the English Awakening.
David Brainerd - apostle to the indigenous people of North America
What were overall effects of Revival?
The work of the Holy Spirit in lives cannot be measured by mathematics but many
thousands of people were swept into the Kingdom of God during this time; the clergy
was reformed which set a new, high standard of pastoral care; agencies to promote
Christian work were formed e.g.: Robert Raikes founded the Sunday school
movement.
Christian concern for the under-privileged grew - people were made aware of social
obligations to others e.g.: prison reform and orphan care. The Industrial Revolution
had brought people to cities where slums appeared, sin increased, drunkenness was
common.
In the Catholic Church Jesuit missionaries continued to expand through South
America and parts of Asia to found Catholic churches - they were people with faith,
vision and dedication.
Revival From 1850 - 1900 The new wave of revivalism came over parts of Europe
and North America after rejuvenation of Christianity the previous century.
Key Figures were:
Charles Spurgeon: 1861-91. was the greatest preacher of his time. A Baptist village
preacher, he went to London and the power of his sermons led to many conversions –
his church numbered 6,000!
Howell Harris: his preaching inspired revival through Wales.
Charles Finney was a converted New York lawyer and a great preacher and
evangelist,founder of the Holiness Movement, based on Wesley's writings.
Dwight L. Moody an evangelist from Chicago who became a preacher of international
fame. He devoted his life to conducting revival campaignsand had a great influence
on mass evangelism.Teamed with Ira Sankey, the great hymn writer and musician.
Founded Moody Bible Institute.
Revival led to the Extension of Gospel preaching to Whole World:
Samuel Marsden: 1764-1838 missionary to Australia, NZ and Tahiti He is referred to
in The New Zealand Prayer Book as the "Apostle of New Zealand", and demonstrated
such generosity of spirit and deep care for Maori people that he earned their eternal
respect and admiration. His work in this country places him at the forefront of people
who were our true pioneers, giving much to the work of William Wilberforce.
Marsden was admitted deacon and ordained priest in 1793, agreeing to William
Wilberforce's recommendation for him to become Assistant Chaplain of New South
Wales. (Australia) He married Elisabeth Fristan in April of the same year, sailing for
Australia shortly afterwards and arriving on 10th March 1794.
Hudson Taylor: 1832-1905 founded China Inland Mission
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David Livingston & Henry Stanley: To Central Africa
William Carey 1761-1834 was a pioneer English Baptist missionary to India whose
motto was: "Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God."
Revival led to social reform and peaceful change in U.S. and Britain. Lord
Shaftesbury was an evangelical Christian who became a social, reformer of poor
working conditions in mines and factories and, worked tirelessly against child-labor.
William Wilberforce: a member of England’s parliament, his zeal led him to take up
crusade for abolition of slavery. Wilberforce was born in 1759 to a family of wealth
and social standing. When eight years old his father died and William was sent to live
in Wimbledon with his aunt who was a stanch Methodist. In this home he came into
contact with such men as George Whitefield, the great evangelist, and John Newton,
(who wrote Amazing Grace) converted from a life of evil as a slave trader.
He wrote several books including “Real Christianity”, “A Practical View of
Christianity” and “Real Christianity: Discerning True and False Faith”
William Booth: founded the Salvation Army.
Brethren Movement-founded to recapture beliefs of early church, erg priesthoodof all
believers, were insistent on truth of scripture, had strong missionary emphasis.
2 important Brethren figures were:
Thomas Barnardo who set up huge institution to care for hungry, homeless boys of
Victorian London.
George Muller who established an orphanage and managed it by faith.
Evangelists such as Smith Wigglesworth, known as the "Apostle of Faith” John G.
Lake and Amy Semple Mcpherson, Maria Woodworth Etter, Kathryn Kuhlman, were
a feature of the late 19th early to mid 20th centuries. They ran large crusades, usually
in rural America, often in tent meetings and moved powerfully in signs and wonders.
End of this period:
Before outbreak of the 2 World Wars, reform languished, evangelism slowed up,
there were clashes between Christians and Darwinists, science and religion now began
to draw apart.
But the fresh wind of the Spirit would blow once again in various places at various
times from Azusa St. revival in 1906 to rise of Charismatic Movement in 1960's.
Sixth Period Church in modern history – into the 21st Century
Thomas Barnardo helping to feed some of the hungry homeless boys of Victorian
London. Bernardo (1845-1905) set up a huge institution to care for the homeless
children of England. He belonged to the Brethren Church
Pentecostalism born and rapidly spread from U.S. (Azusa St, Los Angeles 1906) to
Europe and South America - within 5 years this move became a major force.
Emphasis is now on baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Apostolic church began in 1916 in Wales.
Elim Church and Assembly of God established in 1920's.
Advance of Christianity in Africa and Latin America and parts of Asia.
Lesson 4. The History of Christianity Page 10 of 12 Eagles wings Ministries Online
Bible School