Church History

It is sometimes said that history is for the community what memory is for an individual. Good historical thinking is an integral part of managing change well and a tool for sustaining the life and growth of communities. Historians work with texts of all kinds (not only written materials but also oral evidence, art, buildings, artefacts) in order to understand change and continuity over time. Historians learn to pay attention to the silences and absences in how stories are told, to evaluate the dynamics of power and personalities in events, and to explore how ideas or decisions on the local scene shape or reflect broader trends and movements nationally and internationally. Historical skills enable people to innovate effectively and to set core traditions in a wide context.

‘Church History’ is especially interested in the story of Christian community. It aims to understand how the community has defined itself, how it has interacted with other groups and been shaped by various cultures, and how people have lived out their faith in various times and places. Within theological studies, history focuses on the human story. It invites questions about how we remember the past and offers a rich resource to help plan for the future.

Within the UFT we offer a range of subjects that cover the broad sweep of church history ‘from Jesus to the present’, with specialialist studies in Early Church, Christian Spirituality, Reformation and Australian topics.  Offerings through the CTM also include shorter courses and seminars in the Scholar on the Road series, as well as resources for retreat programmes and reflection days.