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DMcFadden · #3 (**permalink**) 11-25-2007, 11:50 PM

Latourette was a church historian who studied at Yale (1904-1909). He became involved in the the Yale Mission and served in China until illness brought him home in 1912. An American Baptist, he not only served a term as President of that denomination but returned to Yale where he was a professor from 1921 until his retirement in 1953. He also was elected president of the American Historical Association.

Latourette is best known for his The History of Christian Missions in China (1929), History of the Expansion of Christianity (7 vols., 1937–1945), and Christianity in a Revolutionary Age (5 vols., 1958–1962).

(Cf. Douglas, J., Douglas, J., & Clouse, R., G. (1997, c1991). Vol. 4: Biographical entries from New 20th-century encyclopedia of religious knowledge. Rev. ed. of: Twentieth century encyclopedia of religious knowledge 1955.; Biographical entries from New 20th-century encyclopedia of religious knowledge.)

For a brief bibliography on Church History from the editors of Leadership Journal . . .

Earle E. Cairns, Christianity through the Centuries: A History of the Christian Church (Zondervan, 1954, 1981). From a "conservative, non-denominational perspective," Cairns quickly scans the multifarious history of Christendom. Includes a fine bibliography at the end of each chapter, as well as many pictures, charts, and maps.

Jean Comby, How to Read Church History, 2 vols. (Crossroad, 1989). Comby’s unique approach includes many excerpts from historical documents (nearly as much material as the narrative), helping the reader to do history as well as read it. Highlights Roman Catholic events, but gives a fair shake to Protestant developments too.

Tim Dooley, ed., Eerdmans’ Handbook to the History of Christianity (Eerdmans, 1977; rev. 1990). Colorful charts, graphs, maps and pictures bombard the reader of this combination history and dictionary. Each section includes major articles accented nicely with shorter pieces on important personalities, movements, and events. A book one can curl up with for hours.

Justo González, The Story of Christianity, 2 vols. (Harper & Row, 1984). With an economy of expression, González captures the character and significance of events and people. He also devotes substantial coverage to Christianity in Central and Latin America. Many visuals and chapter bibliographies fill out this engaging history.

Paul Johnson, A History of Christianity (Atheneum, 1977). Written as a "retrospect" and "balance sheet" now that Christianity’s "period of predominance is drawing to a close." The fast-moving narrative, not always theologically orthodox, has a journalistic flavor: events are set in their political context, and Johnson’s not unwilling to suggest the less noble side of things.

Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of Christianity, 2 vols. (Harper & Row, 1975). A study of the "pulsations in the life of Christianity." Latourette charts the expansion of Christianity and its effect on the world. He attempts to cover everything with some depth, and he succeeds. A classic.

Bruce L. Shelley, Church History in Plain Language (Word, 1982). Shelley is a courageous historian: he does not hesitate to use gripping anecdotes and stories to crystallize periods and issues. To keep the reader engaged, he focuses on one major issue per chapter. thoroughness is slighted, as he admits, but this book keeps the story in history.

Charles Williams, The Descent of the Dove: A Short History of the Holy Spirit in the Church (1939). Williams writes history as he does novels: as if the supernatural world view of Christians makes a difference. Regularly he notes that "our Lord the Spirit" permitted this or ordained that. This brief metaphysical, cultural, and spiritual history of the church, although dated, will still reward the patient reader.

Christian History : 100 Most important events in church history. 1990; Carol Stream IL: Christianity Today.