Commenting on my previous post, a friend asked what sources I used in co-authoring a Bible class curriculum that traces the histories of most major denominations. I did not use one source alone, but some fairly popular-level books that survey denominational history. They included the following:
The Eternal Kingdom by F. W. Mattox This book was my first exposure to church history EVER outside the Bible. I read it over twenty years ago as a new convert and found it a good primer on the subject. Church history is traced from the first century to the Restoration Movement. The author made good use of primary sources from the second century to the nineteenth including the founding documents of the Stone-Campbell Movement. The book gives good exposure to everyone from Clement of Rome, to Luther, to Wesley, to Campbell. But I did say that it's a survey and I recommend turning to other sources for deeper treatment on topics of personal interest.
The book was first published in 1955 when F. W. Mattox was teaching church history at Harding College (now a university). He went on to be president of Lubbock Christian. The book was revised in 1961 with additional chapters by John McRay. It is a somewhat bias treatment, the chapter title, "Departure from the New Testament Pattern" being a dead giveaway. I'm not sure that objective histories are possible. This one just happens to be honest about its bias.
The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church by Carmen Renee Berry. I did not expect much from this one because of its consumer-sounding title, but it's actually quite good. Written by neither a historian, nor a clergyman, this woman has done her homework. She traces the history of major denominations dividing them into the categories of Liturgical, Traditional, Contemporary, and Free Form. Her humorous and down-to-earth writing style makes this a fun read. She tells what to expect when visiting particular denominations and includes some of the historic creeds in the back.
Denominational Doctrines by Owen Olbricht. Here is another treatment from a Restorationist perspective, but Olbricht has done some thorough research. Since this first appeared in 1972, some of the groups mentioned have evolved even more over time. But Olbricht proves to be a good historian in these two-volumes. In addition to the "main-liners" he also includes some of the lesser known groups like the Friends, the Salvation Army, and the Seventh Day Adventists. Last I heard the author still has copies available, so if you're interested you can contact me for his e-mail.
In addition to these survey treatments, I also found F. D. Bruner's A Theology of the Holy Spirit extrememly helpful for a history of the Pentecostal and Holiness movements. In terms of those groups that grew out of the Stone-Campbell Movement, I would recommend the following:
The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement is a masterful treasury of information. Articles on the three major streams of Stone-Campbell churches as well as some of the offshoots make this an invaluable resource. Articles on the major players in the movement, the philosophers and philosophies that inspired them, and some in-house concerns like Everett Ferguson's articles on Instrumental Music or on Campbell's Sermon on the Law make this a veritable gold mine. I've read numerous articles that have cross-referenced me to other articles. When I first opened this book I could have stayed up all night reading it.
The best monograph that tells the story of Churches of Christ (IMO) is Richard Hughes, Reviving the Ancient Faith.
For a scholarly account of church history you might consider Kenneth Scott Latourette's two volume work, A History of Christianity or Henry Chadwick's The Early Church.
So what sounds good to you or what other sources could you recommend?
