UNIT G: The Story so far . . .

Introductory Notes

Unit prepared by Revd Elizabeth Jordan, with assistance from the CCS revision Group, 2013.

Introduction to Unit G:

Christianity is an historical religion; our faith is based on historical events and has continued to develop within that context. Some knowledge of the two thousand years of church history helps us to understand where we are now; we can put the present into perspective, both in relation to the past and also in the context of our belief that God is Lord of history, still working his purpose out for his world and his people.

To cover such a vast subject in any detail in one five week Unit is not possible, even for those who have a good knowledge of general history already. We will study some key developments and the beliefs, assumptions and aspirations which will help to answer the following questions:

  • How can we handle quarrels amongst ourselves?
  • Who has the greatest claim on us; the Church or the State?
  • How can Christians be distinctive in society?
  • How do individual believers relate to the wider church?
  • How might the church develop in the future?

The unit will ask how national and international events have affected life in for those living in what is now Chelmsford diocese. Until 1965 nearly all this area was part of the county of Essex. It has developed its own character, needs and opportunities.

There are two key resources for this unit:

An Amazingly Short History of The Christian Church by Ray Samuels, referred to in the study notes as ASH. This excellent little booklet is supplied with the course material and gives an overview of Church history in easily accessible form (only 45 pages!).

Further information, especially relating Church history to events in Essex and East London, is found in the accompanying booklet, The Church, the World and Essex.

How can we handle quarrels amongst ourselves?

Perhaps it seems strange to begin a history of the Christian church by looking at division – but the story of the church in the book of Acts is not slow to record the difficulties which arose. Despite the Lord’s prayer that his followers should be one, united in heart and mind (John 17, 11 & 23) the “holy, catholic and apostolic church” has never been wholly united; at least, not since the Council of Jerusalem was called in 47AD to negotiate between Jewish and Gentile Christians.

Church history is littered with quarrels between opposing groups, all of whom were convinced of their own cause, believing that God was on their side. Denominations still find their identity in disagreements that became permanent divisions: Roman Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, etc. Within the Church of England divisions and misunderstanding between Evangelicals, Liberals and Anglo-Catholics continue.

How can we glory in the richness of different traditions without them becoming an obstacle between us?

Introductory notes

Essential reading before the session:

‘The religious environment of early Christianity’ in The Church, the World and Essex, page 1

and

'The Roman and Celtic Church in Essex' page 9.

Additional Reading:

‘Constantine’ and ‘The Desert a City’ page 8 of The Church, the World and Essex’

Samuels, R, ASH, 2-18.

Threlfall-Holmes, Miranda, The Essential History of Christianity. London: SPCK, 2012. pp 1-14.