185-254 CE

Origen synthesized early Christian beliefs and Platonic philosophy. Origen helped make Christianity appealing to the educated. He is responsible for numerous church writings (in Greek).

260-340 CE

Eusebius was a Greek historian, biblical scholar, and apologist who helped bridge Greco-Roman traditions and Christian teachings. He is often called the “Father of Church History” because of his Ecclesiastical History.

325 CE

The Nicene Council of 325 brought a measure, or at least the appearance, of unity of orthodoxy to the church in the Roman Empire. The council was convened by Constantine in order to unify the church around specific topics and beliefs. The Nicene Creed (325) (written in Greek) was the resultant statement of faith that asserted one God and one Jesus. Jesus is begotten, not created (homoeusias).

596 CE

Pope Gregory sends Augustine to Britain to become the first Archbishop of Canterbury.

664 CE

King Oswy convened the Senate at Whitby to establish a consistent dating of Easter. The king’s opening speech resembled Constantine’s at the Nicene Council in 325 in that it focused on the goal of unification.

Language was important at the Senate of Whitby. According to Bede, Bishop Agilbert asked that Wilfrid, an English-speaking priest, speak in his place because “he can better and more clearly explain our opinion in the English language, than I can by an interpreter” (155).

731 CE

In “The Ecclesiastical History of the English People,” Bede (673-735 CE) documented the history of Britain/England from 54 CE through 766 CE. He used previous history documentation from Josephus (37-100 CE), Eusebius (260-340 CE), Socrates (380-450 CE), and Sozomon (323-425 CE).

849-899 CE

Alfred the Great secured England and her borders; supervised translations into English language of the Bible, psalter, and other religious works.

1066 CE

William of Normandy conquers England and the transition begins. Wolfston, Bishop of Wuster, professes obedience to William’s Archbishop of Canterbury (LeFranc, a Frenchman). Wolfston is the last English bishop.

1154 CE

Henry II’s reign from 1154-1189 CE marks the beginning of the Plantagenet dynasty. Henry II was the son of Matilda, daughter of Henry I, and Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou (France)

1221-1274 CE

Thomas Aquinas was a priest. His writings influenced modern philosophy and Western thought. His works, such as “Summation of Theology” (c. 1265-1274) bridged Augustine Christian tradition and Aristotelian neoplatonists.

1347 CE

The Bubonic Plague, or Black Death, killed 40% of the population and 66% of the clergy. The Crisis of Certitude -- “how can we know we have certitude of salvation?” -- rose to the forefront as a result of the plague.

1380 CE

John Wycliffe (1330-1384) was the first to translate the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English. This work began a long line of English Bibles that greatly influenced the Reformation.

1517 CE

Martin Luther (1483-1546) tacks his Ninety-five Theses on the door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg, Germany. This is the start of the Protestant Reformation. Luther introduced the theological concept of justification by faith alone. The impact of this concept cannot be stressed enough for its overwhelming importance in the Reformation.

1521 CE

Pope Leo X bestows upon Henry VIII the title “Defender of the Faith” for refuting Luther.

1536 CE

John Calvin (1509-1564) was an influential Reformer. Calvin offered a clear definition of faith in Book 3 Chapter 2 of Institutes of the Christian Religion: “now we shall possess a right definition of faith if we call it a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence towards us founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

1537 CE

Tyndale’s (Matthew’s) Bible (1537 CE). William Tyndale began a translation into English, based on Erasmus’ Greek translation. The work was finished by Miles Coverdale and call the Matthew’s Bible.
The Great Bible (1538 CE), great in size and in use, was the first English Bible authorized by King Henry VIII to be read in church. It was a translation from a translation.
The Geneva Bible (1557 CE) was the first “study” Bible. This smaller format included chapter and verse headings and copious notes.

1549 CE

The first edition of The Book of Common Prayer is published. This text represents the work of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury.

1611 CE

The King James Bible used antiquated language even for its day; it was not printed in the common vernacular even though it was a dynamic translation. The KJV was not a new translation; again, it was a translation from translations. It used Tyndale’s, Matthew’s, Geneva, and the Bishop’s Bibles.

1688 CE

William and Mary are the reigning monarchs when the Act of Toleration is passed. Puritans and sects can now establish churches albeit with restrictions.

1707 CE

Queen Anne is the reigning monarchs when the Act of Union brings England and Scotland together as Great Britain. This unification introduces new challenges about the national religion.

Anne’s death in 1714 marks the end of the Stuart line.

1730 Ce

In 1730, John Wesley (1703-1791) and a small group of Oxford scholars developed a pattern of studying, worshiping, and engaging in charitable activities. Wesley was concerned about the state of the soul and the visible, outer living that stemmed from justification by faith alone. The original group increased its focus and methodology. By 1735, additional groups formed out of the original group. Thus, Oxford Methodism begins.

1770s CE

The Industrial Revolution brought more change. Increased trade, growth of the merchant class, automation in production techniques, harnessing steam power, and urbanization greatly impacted England and her people.

1776 CE

Johann Griesbach (1745-1812) introduces the two-source hypothesis, suggesting that the gospel of Mark and an unnamed course called Q were the primary sources for the gospels of Luke and Matthew. This hypothesis set the stage for increased scholarly approaches to biblical studies.

1833 CE

John Henry Newman (1801-1890), along with John Keble (1792-1866), Richard Froude (1803-1836), and later Edward Pusey (1800-1882), began the Oxford Movement. These Tractarians, so named for their written tracts, pushed for a renewal within the Church of England.

The Oxford Movement (1833-1845) was marked by tracts advocating an emphasis on the teachings of the early church, a restoration of the rich liturgy of worship, a focus on the Eucharist, and a deeper understanding of theological concerns including apostolic succession, baptismal regeneration, and social theology.

1838 CE

The common people push against the established political structure and gain increased suffrage, equal electoral districts, a balloting process, the abolition of property requirements, pay for members of Parliament, and the conduct of Parliament on an annual basis. The people have a voice, and it is heard.

1845 CE

Oxford Movement leader, John Henry Newman converts from Anglican to Roman Catholic.

2008 CE

The Anglican Communion adopts the process of continuing Indaba as a means of communicating about the differences and similarities across the Communion. This process of having open, honest conversations that address a common problem or challenge that impacts many people further helps define the Anglican identity.

The legacy of the universal church continues to unfold. History shows that reformations are always happening. Anglican L. William Countryman (1941-) reminds us to call on the Spirit in unsettling times. Come Spirit, come.