The Church in the Long Eighteenth Century

'A series such as this is hugely welcome. Its emphasis on the history of ideas, and on the global - not just European - experience of Christianity and its manifestations of church, will be valued by students, scholars and general readers alike. The I.B.Tauris History of the Christian Church brings ecclesiastical history into a new era, for a new generation' - Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of the History of the Church, University of Oxford; 'As all good general histories must, this volume offers a clear structure, expertly chosen details, authoritative judgments, and forcefully direct prose. Yet David Hempton's treatment of 'the long eighteenth century' in the history of Christianity goes well beyond the usual requirements for a successful introduction. It is unusually sensitive to the most attractive as well as the most blameworthy aspects of its story; it blends large-scale political and imperial tectonics with telling biographical miniatures; it documents the deeds of women as well as men, the lowly as well as the exalted; and it exploits effortlessly a great range of scholarship. But above all, the book successfully combines fresh treatment of better-known European and American histories with probably the best general overview now available for the expansion of Christianity during the early-modern period from the Western to the non-Western world. In describing the complex transformations of western Christendom, Hempton is as illuminating as masters of this history like Hugh McLeod; in accounting for the even more complicated developments of the worldwide story - from central Russia to Sierra Leone, from Alaska to the Congo, from China to Brazil - he joins the rarefied company of Dana Robert, Andrew Walls, and only a few others. The result of this unusually adept combination is a terrific addition to I.B.Tauris' outstanding general series.' - Mark A. Noll, Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History, University of Notre Dame; 'The social history of eighteenth-century Christianity is typically framed by pietism, Enlightenment, and revolution. David Hempton broadens and deepens the classic narrative by foregrounding the expansion of Christianity as a worldwide movement, including such themes as missions, European encounters with the 'other', slavery, and Orthodoxy. He transforms old and new interpretations into an exciting and readable overview that makes sense in our contemporary global context. This fine book will remain an essential introduction to the subject for years to come.' - Dana L. Robert, Truman Collins Professor of World Christianity and History of Mission, Boston University