The Role of Church History

Church history is an essential part of a seminary education rooted in the Bible. According to Rowan Williams, the history of the church is "the very untidy history of how the holy text has been read and lived out" (30). The resources highlighted here help the student of Scripture to see how the Bible has been read and lived out in history.

The Design of the Guide

This guide has been prepared by the Buswell Library to introduce students to important resources for the study of church history. These resources can be found in the Library's reference, circulating, and electronic collections, and information is provided about their location and availability.

In addition to titles on the general study of Christianity, it includes sections that deal specifically with the ancient, medieval, Reformation, and modern eras. 

Recognizing that many Western histories of the church have unduly focused on people, places, events, and movements in Europe and North American, we have also included a separate section on the history of the church in the Majority World. 

Due to our rootedness in the Reformed tradition, we have included a section that highlights resources on Presbyterian and Reformed history, including a special focus on the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).