-
Period: 30 to 150
New Testament Era
-
33
First Deacons Appointed
There function was to take Communion to the sick. -
37
Church in Antioch
A church is established in Antioch. The church is beginning to spread. -
Period: 54 to 68
Emperor Nero
Nero persecutes Christians relentlessly -
55
Paul Describes Eucharist
1 Corinthians chapters 11 and 14 describe the pattern of worship -
70
Destruction of Jerusalem
This causes a scattering of any of the believers left in the Jerusalem area. -
95
Book of Revelation Written
It is a Christian Apocalyptic writing given "in the Spirit on the Lord's Day." Practice of getting together on Sundays is hinted at. -
96
1 Clement
A letter from the church of Rome to the church in Corinth - echoes Communion prayers -
100
Didache
Earliest church service book, describes agape meal (and Communion) Scandalous rumors begin that Christians in their worship practice cannibalism and incest. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, in letters against the Docetists (those who say Christ only seemed human), stresses the "reality" of Christ's flesh and blood in the Eucharist. -
112
Pliny Interrogates Christians
Pliny, governor of Bithynia, interrogates Christians about their meetings. -
125
2 Clement
The earliest extant Christian sermon on record. -
Period: 150 to 350
Early Church Era
-
Period: 150 to 180
Quartodeciman Controversy
Controversy over the proper day (Sunday or weekday) to celebrate Easter. -
155
Justin Martyr Apology
Justin Martyr explains Christian worship to critics. -
313
Edict of Milan
Constantine allows Christianity to be legalized as a religion. -
325
Council of Nicaea
The first effort to attain consensus primarily on the divine nature of Jesus as God's Son. The earliest development of the Nicean Creed. -
Period: 350 to 1054
Holy Catholic Church
-
381
Council of Constantinople
2nd major council of Christianity. Dealt primarily with the Arian controversy. Affirmed the Nicean Creed to what we know today. -
410
Fall of Rome
Rome is attacked by the Visigoths. It is considered the landmark event that ushered in the fall of the Roman Empire. -
452
Pope Leo I defeats Attila the Hun
As a result Pope Leo I gains authority over the other bishops and claims the bishop of Rome is successor to Apostle Peter. -
460
St. Patrick of Ireland
Returns to Ireland after being in slavery since being 16 years old. Undertakes a great missionary work in Ireland. -
480
Organization of Western Monasticism
Benedict of Nursia establishes his holy order and develops a rule of living for the people there. -
529
Benedict of Nursia
Establishes a monastery of Monte Cassino and the Benedictine Order. Benedict's "Rule" for monks will become the most influential over future centuries. -
540
Benedictine Rule
Benedict of Nursia establishes his "rule" by which those who take the vows of the order must follow. It influences the spirituality of the Church for centuries after. -
Period: 540 to 604
Pope Gregory the Great
Gives the mass much of the shape it has today. Gregorian chant is named after him. -
Period: 570 to 629
Mohammed
Mohammed begins the Islamic religion which begins to supplant Christianity across the Middle East and North Africa. -
Period: 600 to 700
Use of Organs
Organs begin to be used as part of worship -
638
Islamic Capture of Jerusalem
-
664
Synod of Whitby
England adopts the Roman Catholic faith after a conflict with the Celtic church and the Roman missionaries. -
Period: 726 to 843
Iconoclasm Controversy
A conflict between Iconophiles (those in favor of images) and Iconoclasts (those who saw images as idolatry). -
Period: 730 to 780
Music Training
Schools for church music are establised at Paris, Cologne, Soissin, and Metz. -
Period: 810 to 877
John Scotus Erigena
one of the greatest theologiaves of tearly middle ages, helps pave way for scholasticism. Involved in eucharistic controversy with Radbertus and maintains in the supper we partake of the Lord "mentally not dentally." -
831
Radbertus
He publishes first writing in the West on the Eucharist. It provokes controversy and anticipates later Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation -
Period: 900 to 1000
Expansion of Christianity
Christianity extends to eastern Europe and into Scandinavia -
Period: 950 to 1000
End Times
As the dawn of the millennia approaches people fear the end of the world and the Last Judgement. A moral low-point of the papacy is demonstrated. -
988
Byzantine Liturgy
A order of worship predominant within Eastern Christianity. -
993
Santoral Calendar
A way of venerating the saints is established and saints are canonized. -
1009
Destruction of the Holy Sepulcher
Moslems sack Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. -
1050
Celibacy of Priests
Within the Western Church all priests are required to remain celibate. -
1054
East-West Schism
The Western (Roman) and Eastern Church split apart. -
Period: 1054 to 1517
Post-Schism Church Era
-
1085
Pope Gregory VII
The death of Pope Gregory VII - he led several significant reforms within the western Church. -
Period: 1095 to 1270
The Crusades
The church approves the mobilization of armies to fight and retake significant religious cities and sites in the Eastern Church. Crusades are focused on freeing Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria. There were seven significant mobilizations sanctioned by the Roman Church. -
Period: 1182 to 1226
Saint Francis of Assisi
Lifespan of this remarkable radical follower of Jesus. -
1215
Forth Lateran Council
The doctrine of transubstantiation is adopted by the Western Church. -
1301
Plague
Bubonic Plague kills many in Europe. -
1350
Humanism
Rise of Humanism - which unlike Secular humanism was based on the human experience in relationship with the Almighty God. -
Period: 1380 to 1471
Thomas a Kempis
Lifespan of this Thomas a Kempis -
1450
Printing Press
The move-able type printing press is invented increasing the speed and decreasing the cost of reproducing texts. Allowed for more broad distribution of the Bible among other texts. -
1517
95 Theses of Luther
In objection to the Roman Church, Martin Luther nails his 95 theses/objections to the Wittenberg Cathedral door. -
Period: 1517 to
Reformation Era
-
1520
Translation of the Bible into German and English
During the 1520s Luther translates the Bible into German and Tyndale translates the Bible into English -
1525
Anabaptist Reformation begins
Swiss Anabaptists separate from the the reformer Zwingli in Zurich, Switzerland. -
King James Version established
-
Thirty Years War Begins
Protestant vs. Catholic war throughout central Europe. -
Pilgrims land on American soil
-
Westminster Confession is written
-
Book of Common Prayer Re-established
-
Pilgrim's Progress written
John Bunyan writes the famous Pilgrim's Progress -
Period: to
Protestant/Evangelical Worship
-
Period: to
John Wesley
-
Period: to
John Newton
Newton has a storied life as a slave-trader who eventually enters ministry and influences Wilberforce who fought to abolish slavery. Newton is also known for writing Amazing Grace. -
Methodist Movement Begins
Started by John and Charles Wesley. -
French Revolution
The French Revolution ushered in secularism within France. This aspect of the Enlightenment spread throughout Europe. -
Revival at Cane Ridge
One of the famous revivals in America -
Period: to
Fanny Crosby
Fanny Crosby was a prolific American gospel songwriter. -
Period: to
Contemporary Worship
-
Period: to
Azusa Street Revival
The beginning of the Pentecostal movement. -
Earliest broadcast of a Christian TV Show