Church History Timeline: From Jesus and the Apostles to Today

Galilee and Judea

Jesus teaches, heals, calls disciples, and announces the kingdom of God. The dates of His public ministry are approximate.

Jerusalem

The earliest Christian witness centers on Jesus’ death and resurrection. Mary Magdalene is among the first witnesses named in the Gospels.

Jerusalem

Acts 2 records the coming of the Holy Spirit, Peter’s public witness, baptisms, and a community devoted to teaching and prayer.

Jerusalem

Acts 7 records Stephen’s testimony before his death by stoning. Acts 8 describes the persecution that scattered believers carrying the Gospel.

Road from Jerusalem toward Gaza

Philip explains Isaiah and baptizes the Ethiopian official, an early example of the Gospel crossing cultural boundaries.

Jerusalem

The leaders in Acts 15 address whether Gentiles must be circumcised to follow Christ.

Philippi, Ephesus, and Cenchreae

Lydia opens her home, Priscilla and Aquila teach Apollos, and Paul commends Phoebe to the believers in Rome.

Rome

Paul preaches under house arrest. His letters and missionary journeys helped congregations share teaching across cities.

Roman Empire

His letters encourage Christian communities and preserve early testimony about church life and allegiance to Christ.

Smyrna, Roman Asia

His church’s account of his death was shared as an example of faithful endurance.

Lyon and Vienne, Roman Gaul

An early church letter preserved by Eusebius recounts Blandina’s endurance under persecution.

Lyon, Roman Gaul

Irenaeus defends the continuity of Christian teaching with the apostolic witness.

Carthage, Roman North Africa

Their account records the courage of two women who held to their Christian confession under Roman persecution.

Roman Empire

Christians gain greater freedom of worship and a path to recover confiscated property.

Nicaea, Bithynia

Bishops adopt a creed confessing the Son’s Divine being. The council’s surviving decisions do not choose the Bible’s books.

Present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea

The kingdom becomes an early center of African Christianity, associated with King Ezana and Frumentius.

Milan

His Confessions recounts his conversion and the influence of his mother Monica’s prayers.

Ireland

Patrick’s Confession describes his calling and ministry. His own testimony is a better starting point than later legends.

Constantinople

The council reaffirms the Nicene faith. The creed associated with Nicaea and Constantinople becomes widely used in Christian worship.

Ephesus

The council addresses a dispute about the identity of Christ and the title Theotokos for Mary. Its reception becomes part of the history of Eastern Christian divisions.

Chalcedon, near Constantinople

The council confesses one Christ in two natures. Different receptions of its definition shape later church traditions.

Italy

A shared rhythm of prayer, work, and community becomes influential in Western monasteries.

England

His mission becomes an important stage in the growth of Christianity among the Anglo-Saxons.

Xi’an, China

The monument records a Christian mission that reached China through the Church of the East.

Great Moravia

Their work makes teaching and worship accessible in a Slavic language.

Kyivan Rus’

The conversion associated with Vladimir shapes the development of Eastern Christianity in the region.

Rome and Constantinople

Excommunications mark an important stage in a long separation involving authority, worship, and politics.

Europe and the eastern Mediterranean

Armed campaigns conducted in the name of religion reshape Christian relations with Muslim and Jewish communities and between Eastern and Western Christians.

Rhineland

The abbess writes, composes music, and corresponds with leaders beyond her community.

Constantinople

The Fourth Crusade’s attack on the city deepens the division between Eastern and Western churches.

Assisi, Italy

Their communities model prayer, simplicity, and service, inspiring lasting religious orders.

Italy and Avignon

Through letters and personal counsel, she urges reform and intervenes in disputes over church leadership.

England

Wycliffe’s circle is associated with English Bible translation and criticism of church authority.

Constance

Hus’s preaching and death make him a central figure in Bohemian reform.

Wittenberg

Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses open a public controversy over repentance and church practice.

Bavaria

Her published letters show how laywomen took part in public theological debate.

Continental Europe and England

His translation reaches readers in English and influences later versions. He is executed in 1536.

Zürich

Bullinger’s preaching, correspondence, and confessional writing strengthen ties among Reformed churches.

Basel and later Geneva

Calvin’s work gives Reformed readers a systematic account of doctrine and discipleship.

Trent

Catholic leaders clarify doctrine and pursue reform in clergy training, discipline, and worship.

Scotland

Knox’s preaching and the Scots Confession help shape the reorganization of Scottish church life.

Spain

Teresa establishes communities focused on prayer and writes influential accounts of spiritual formation.

England

The translation draws on earlier English work and becomes influential in preaching, worship, and literature.

British North America

Local and traveling preachers emphasize conversion, and congregations debate the meaning of the renewal.

Massachusetts

Edwards records accounts of conversion and later asks readers to weigh spiritual experiences by their fruit.

Britain and North America

Whitefield’s travel and open-air preaching reach audiences beyond one parish.

England

Susanna teaches her household, John organizes societies, and Charles helps carry Christian teaching through hymns.

Kentucky

A large gathering brings preaching and prayer across congregational boundaries in the Second Great Awakening.

United States

Finney becomes known for planned campaigns, preaching, and public invitations to respond.

United States and Britain

Through writing and public meetings Palmer spreads Holiness teaching and encourages women’s participation.

Japan

The Jesuit mission contributes to communities later sustained by Japanese believers through persecution.

Ming China

Ricci forms relationships through scholarship and presents Christian teaching in a Chinese intellectual setting.

Nagasaki, Japan

Japanese Christians and foreign missionaries die together during persecution. Their witness is remembered across church traditions.

West Africa

Crowther helps advance translation and models African leadership within the Anglican mission.

India

Her educational and relief work serves vulnerable women and girls. Christian prayer and community become part of the work at Mukti.

Scotland

Delegates discuss mission and cooperation, with limited representation from many churches in the mission regions.

Rwanda and Uganda

Local fellowships carry practices of repentance, restitution, testimony, and walking in the light.

United States

Her public campaigns show how women evangelists and healing prayer shaped networks before modern Pentecostalism.

Topeka, Kansas

The prayer meeting at Charles Parham’s school influences early Pentecostal teaching about Spirit baptism.

Los Angeles

Interracial prayer meetings, visitors, and The Apostolic Faith newspaper spread reports of renewal and spiritual gifts.

United States and Liberia

Farrow participates in early Pentecostal networks, ministers in prayer, and later travels to Liberia.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Ministers form a cooperative fellowship for missions, training, and doctrinal coordination.

Britain and international meetings

His traveling ministry and published sermons help spread Pentecostal teaching about prayer and faith.

Los Angeles

McPherson combines preaching, community service, and later radio broadcasting in a growing Pentecostal ministry.

United States and international campaigns

His campaigns become influential in healing revival networks. Later doctrinal claims associated with him remain disputed.

United States

Roberts brings prayer meetings from tents to broadcasting and later establishes a university.

United States

Coe’s tent meetings and Herald of Healing show how portable gatherings and print worked together.

Arizona

Allen’s ministry uses a permanent base, print, and recordings to extend its campaigns.

United States

Kuhlman emphasizes the Holy Spirit and draws people from varied church traditions to services and broadcasts.

Oklahoma

Hagin’s teaching and training extend the reach of faith and healing ministry in a later generation.

Flossenbürg, Germany

The Lutheran pastor opposed Nazi control of church life and was executed for his role in the resistance.

The Netherlands and international audiences

After her family sheltered Jewish people during the Nazi occupation, Corrie survived imprisonment and later spoke about Christian faith and forgiveness.

Amsterdam

Member churches create a forum for cooperation and dialogue across traditions.

Los Angeles and international campaigns

The 1949 Los Angeles campaign brings national attention to Graham. Crusades, broadcasting, and cooperation with local churches extend his Gospel preaching.

Calcutta, India

The religious congregation makes care for people facing poverty and serious illness a central expression of its Christian vocation.

California

His public account in an Episcopal setting is often cited as a milestone in Protestant charismatic renewal.

Vatican City

Catholic bishops address worship, the nature of the Church, relations with other Christians, and engagement with the modern world.

Pennsylvania

A Catholic student retreat becomes a landmark in charismatic renewal. Patti Gallagher Mansfield later tells the story publicly.

Switzerland

Evangelical leaders adopt the Lausanne Covenant and call for cooperation in mission.

San Salvador

The archbishop spoke publicly against violence and on behalf of people suffering repression.

Worldwide

Diaspora and local churches carry worship, translation, pastoral care, and witness into new settings.

Worldwide

Pew’s 2025 report estimates 2.3 billion Christians in 2020 and finds that sub-Saharan Africa had become the region with the largest Christian population.

Wilmore, Kentucky

Asbury University records an extended period of prayer and worship that began after its February 8 chapel service and drew visitors to campus.

Incheon, South Korea

The congress issues the Seoul Statement and gathers evangelical participants around questions of world mission.

International

Commemorations revisit the confession of Christ and the history of cooperation across Christian traditions.

Lund, Sweden

The World Council of Churches and Lutheran World Federation report launching a project about a century of ecumenical work in Sweden.