Sketches from Church History: An Illustrated Account of 20 Centuries of Christ’s Power (S. M. Houghton)

Sketches from Church History

An Illustrated Account of 20 Centuries of Christ’s Power

The most interesting church history we know of, loaded with fascinating artwork and photos. Many who formerly found church history boring have thoroughly enjoyed this book. Covers from the Apostles to missionary efforts of the 19th century.

This book outlines the thrilling story of the onward march of the Church of Christ from the earliest times to the end of the 19th century. Far from a dry account of long-forgotten events and controversies, this volume is rather a moving and highly illustrated record of those who undertook the adventure of faith before us. Through their courage and steadfastness, they left an example as those who have gone before us, through times of prosperity and times of persecution, which should stimulate, warn and encourage the church in our own age to persevere in the same path, and obtain the same everlasting reward.

Table of Contents

Part 1: The Early Church to the Rise of Islam

• 1) The Early Church
• 2) The Martyrs
• 3) Constantine the Great
• 4) Church Fathers
• 5) Monasticism
• 6) The Rise of the Papacy
• 7) Islam

Part 2: The Dark and Middle Ages to the Height of Papal Authority

• 8) The Christian Faith Comes to the British Isles (Part 1)
• 9) The Christian Faith Comes to the British Isles (Part 2)
• 10) Early Missionaries in Europe
• 11) Pope and Emperor
• 12) The Crusades
• 13) The Papacy at its Height

Part 3: Forerunners of the Reformation

• 14) The Waldenses
• 15) John Wyclifee
• 16) John Huss
• 17) Savonarola
• 18) The Approach of Dawn

Part 4: The 16th-Century Reformation in Germany

• 19) Martin Luther the Student
• 20) Luther and the Church
• 21) The Pope and Luther
• 22) Luther at the Wartburg
• 23) The Protestants in Germany

Part 5: The 16th-Century Reformation Outside Germany

• 24) Ulrich Zwingli
• 25) John Calvin
• 26) Calvin in Geneva
• 27) England Receives the Light, Part 1
• 28) England Receives the Light, Part 2
• 29) Scotland Transformed
• 30) Huguenots of Frace
• 31) The French Crown and the Huguenots
• 32) The Netherlands Receives the Truth

Part 6: The Faith in the 17th and 18th Centuries

• 33) The Thirty Years’ War in Germany (1618-1648)
• 34) English Puritanism, chiefly under Elizabeth
• 35) English Puritanism under the Early Stuarts
• 36) Under the Later Stuarts
• 37) The Faith in North America during the 17th Century, Part 1
• 38) The Faith in North America during the 17th Century, Part 2
• 39) The Pietists: Spener, Francke, Zinzendorf
• 40) The Faith in North America during the 18th Century
• 41) Methodism and the Wesleys, Part 1
• 42) Methodism and the Wesleys, Part 2
• 43) George Whitefield and Methodism

Part 7: From the Rise of Modern Missions to the End of the 19th Century

• 44) Revived Missionary Activity
• 45) The Faith in the 19th-Century Church, North America (in 2 parts)
• 46) Part 2
• 47) The Faith in the 19th-Century Church: The British Isles (in 2 parts)
• 48) Part 2
• 49) The 19th-Century Church on the Continent of Europe, Part 1
• 50) Part 2

About the Author

Sidney Maurice Houghton (1899-1987) was born in Salford, Manchester to Joseph and Edith (née Edge) Houghton. Both his parents were ardent Methodists, and at one time it was thought their son would enter the ministry of that denomination. He had an early interest in books, inherited from his father.

He served in the Army for the last year of the First World War, involved in administrative and clerical duties in a Searchlight Unit on the Somme in France. Returning to England, he was much influenced by the lives of his wife-to-be’s parents (Strict & Particular Baptists) and family life, and came to love the ‘doctrines of grace’. After completing degrees at Manchester University, in 1925 he obtained a post teaching History in Rhyl Grammar School, where he was to remain for the next 35 years.

From 1960 until his death in 1987 he was the chief literary and editorial advisor to the Banner of Truth Trust. His ‘Reminiscences’ are published by the Trust in My Life and Books.