History of the Catholic Church
Journey through two thousand years of the Catholic Church - from the upper room at Pentecost to the present day. Discover how the faith has been handed down, defended, and lived across every age and continent.
Church History
Two Thousand Years ofFaith and Mission
The history of the Catholic Church is the story of how the faith entrusted to the Apostles has been preserved, proclaimed, and lived across twenty centuries. It is a story of martyrs and missionaries, councils and controversies, saints and sinners - all held together by the promise of Christ that the gates of hell would not prevail against his Church.
In these pages, you will trace the expansion of Christianity from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, witness the great councils that defined our doctrine, and learn how the Church has navigated persecution, schism, reform, and renewal. You will encounter emperors and popes, monks and monarchs, and ordinary believers whose faithfulness shaped the world we inherit.
Understanding where we have come from helps us to understand who we are and where we are called to go. May this journey through history deepen your appreciation for the faith you have received.
At a Glance
Councils and Doctrine
Learn how the great councils defined and defended the faith against heresies and confusion.
Expansion and Mission
Trace the spread of Christianity from the Roman Empire to the New World and beyond.
Reform and Renewal
Discover how the Church has continually been called back to the heart of the Gospel.
“To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant.”
SJ
St John Henry Newman
An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, 1845
Learn from the Past
The Church does not merely have a history - she is a living communion that spans the ages. As you explore these resources, may you come to know more deeply the family of faith to which you belong.