A History of the Christian Church

By Williston Walker

Book Overview

"A History of the Christian Church" is a comprehensive and scholarly account of the development of the Christian faith from its earliest origins through the modern era. Written by the renowned historian Williston Walker, this work provides an in-depth exploration of the institutional, theological, and social changes that shaped the church over nearly two millennia. The narrative traces the evolution of Christian doctrine, the rise of the papacy, the impact of the Reformation, and the expansion of missionary movements across the globe.

Walker's meticulous research offers readers a clear understanding of the major figures, councils, and movements that defined the Christian experience. From the apostolic age and the challenges of the early martyrs to the complex political landscapes of the Middle Ages and the Enlightenment, this volume serves as an essential resource for students of theology and history alike. By focusing on the historical context of religious thought and the institutional growth of various denominations, "A History of the Christian Church" remains a foundational text for anyone seeking to understand the profound influence of Christianity on Western civilization and the wider world.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025712730
• ISBN13: 9781025712734
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 654 Pages
• Weight: 2.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Easy and Complete Text

This has been an excellent additon to my library and helped me immensely during my seminary studies on ancient and medieval church history. Look up any subject, from Iranaeus to Arianism, and you will find several pages that sum up the topic beautifully. One caution is to remember the book was written at the beginning of the 20th century and so may be lacking recent scholarship. Nevertheless I recommend it as a good second text on the subject of church history. As the intro says, it is a book noted for its "clarity, compactness, and balance."

Irritating at times, but overall well-done

I understand that I am differing with other reviewers in giving Walker 5 stars, and at times I found Walker's passe divorcing of "faith and history" annoying, nevertheless, he knows his history and how to write it. The editors at the beginning make note of how Walker was indebted to the fruits of German scholarship--that becomes evident really quick in the book. In examing the early years of Chrisitanity (Christ through the rise of Docetism), Walker, although I disagree with parts of his methodolgy, has cogent arguments for the development of Christological thought. His contribution to early Trinitarian thought is outstanding. He outperforms himself in the times Jan Hus to the Reformation. Although I had a good grip on the Reformation, I found myself re-reading those chapters simply because they are so good.This is a well-researched book. However, I was shocked when I saw the price. Nevertheless, and the bigger the checkbook the better, this book is well-worth the horrendous price (ok, I understand there is a reason for the price). Tolle Legge!

Excellent Resource for the Serious Student

A History of the Christian Church by Williston Walker was first published in 1918 and has gone through significant revision over the years. This is the fourth edition and includes the latest scholarship in the field of Christian history. The book is the major text for many seminary and university courses on the subject and with good reason, it includes quality research and scholarship. If you are a serious student of the subject you will enjoy the book and find it helpful in your own research. If you are a novice or casual inquirer, I recommend you look elsewhere. It does not offer a smooth flow through history like other texts of this nature. On the spectrum of Christian scholarship, the text is on the liberal end. The reading is more difficult than most introductory texts. Also, the book does not seem to give equal print to subjects of equal value to the history of the world wide Church. Yet, for the serious student of church history, it is an outstanding resource.

Great reference book of basic Christian History

Insightful, especially for Protestant Christians. It fills a mysterious gap, and explains the development of Church dogma within a framework of an uninterrupted apostolic succession particularly between Pentecost (the birth of the Christian Church) and Martin Luther's reformation.

The definitive concise presentation of Church History

This is the long established basic text for an introduction to church history as used in many Christian colleges. It is an excellent introduction to the development of the Christian Church. Anyone interested in the subject should begin with this book.