THE CHURCH

 

 

I have very little interest in theology as such, but a considerable interest in the meaning of life and the development of a spiritual dimension. My chief interests however is to trace the history of the church as it developed in our part of Berkshire.

 

The material is contained within a series of pages as follows:-

 

The history of our Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin in Purley on Thames

This is fairly well covered within the history of Purley on Thames (click here)

 

The history of the Church in England and the Berkshire area

 This tells the story of how Christianity came to Britain and recalls some of the factors that made the church what it is today. (click here)

 

The history of the early Church up to the time of Constantine

This is a very contentious subject. I have tried to cover it using quotations from the New Testament and other early writings and to set out my own views on what actually happened. The subject is riddled with misconceptions, conspiracy theories and plain obfuscation. (click here)

 

Church Architecture in England

This  has not yet been developed (click here)

 

The Reformation in the 16th and 17th Centuries

This is another thorny topic and it is very difficult to separate out what was reformation and what was the exercise of jurisdiction and temporal power.  It is not yet developed sufficiently to post sections on the web. (click here)

 

Church Leaders

Lists of names of Clergy who served Berkshire (culled mainly from Bishops’ registers of the 13th to 16th Centuries) (click here)

 

Links

Some links to other sites of interest.(click here)

 

H4 3/7/2008