Church History: Timeline, AD 30-2008

[see bottom of file for legends]

Era 1: Early Church (1): Persecutions (AD 30–300)

Era 2: Early Church (2): Stability (AD 300–600)

Era 3: Medieval Church (1): Expansion & Conflicts (AD 600–1000)

Era 4: Medieval Church (2): Growth & Decline of the Papacy (AD 1000–1500)

Era 5: Modern Church (1): Reformation & Struggles (AD 1500–1700)

Era 6: Modern Church (2): Revival & Missions (AD 1700–1900)

Era 7: Modern Church (3): Ecumenism & Adaptations (AD 1900–2000)

Era 8: Postmodern Church: World Evangelism (AD 2000–??)

Era 1: Early Church (1): Persecutions
(AD 30–300)

25	CHINA—East Han Dynasty [25–220]
30	Pentecost in Jerusalem—founding of the church
42	Paul’s three missionary journeys [42–62]
43	Britain invaded by Romans
50	Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1-29)—acceptance of Gentiles
54	Persecution by Nero [54–68]
66	1st Jewish Revolt [66–70]; escape of Jerusalem Christians to Pella
67	† Apostle Peter & Apostle Paul (both martyred)
70	Fall of Jerusalem
73	Fall of Masada
79	The Jewish War by Josephus (37–100)
79	Eruption of Vesuvius
81	Persecution by Domitian [81–96]
98	Persecution by Trajan [98–117]
100	† Clement of Rome (30–100, martyred)
110	Gnostics opposed by Ignatius of Antioch (35–110, martyred)
117	Persecution by Hadrian [117–138]
117	Surge of Gnosticism
138	Persecution by Antoninus Pius [138–161]
144	Marcion excommunicated
155	Opposition of Marcionism by Justin Martyr (100–165, martyred)
156	† Polycarp (70–156, martyred)
160	Montanism in Phrygia
161	Persecution by Marcus Aurelius [161–180]
180	Against Heresies by Iranaeus (130–200)
190	Debate over date of Easter
193	Persecution by Septimius Severus [193–211]
200	Apology by Tertullian (160–225)
200	Syncretistic policy
203	† Perpetua (181–203, martyred)
207	Tertullian joins Montanists
216	† Clement of Alexandria (150–216)
220	Invasion of Asia Minor & Balkans by Goths
222	Two bishops in Rome—Pontianus & Hippolytus
229	Persecution by Decius [229–251]
230	Origen (185–254) in Palestine
238	Manicheism founded
249	Cyprian (200–258, martyred), bishop of Carthage [249–258]
251	Two bishops in Rome—Cornelius & Novatian
257	Invasion of Spain by Franks
260	Paul of Samosata, bishop of Antioch
265	CHINA—Jin Dynasty [265–420]
276	† Mani, founder of Manicheans (216–276, martyred in Persia)

Era 2: Early Church (2): Stability
(AD 300–600)

303	Great Persecution by Diocletian [303–305]
305	Great Persecution by Galerius [305–311]
311	Edict of Toleration—persecution stopped
311	Church History by Eusebius of Caesarea (263–339)
312	Constantine the Great (275–337), emperor [312–337]
313	Battle of Milvian Bridge won by Constantine
313	Edict of Milan—equality for Christians
320	Arian controversy begins
320	Donatists arise in Africa
324	Pachomius’ first foundation (communal monasticism)
325	1st Ecumenical Council: Nicea—Arianism condemned, Nicene Creed
325	First Church of Nativity in Bethlehem
330	Doctrine of trinity defended by Athanasius
330	Constantinople founded
340	Goths converted to Arianism by Ulfilas
350	Constantinus II, sole emperor [350–361]; Arianism at its apex
357	† Anthony, hermit (251–357)
360	Arian heresy opposed by Basil
361	Missionary work of Martin of Tours
361	Julian the Apostate, emperor [361–363]
373	† Athanasius (296–373)
374	Ambrose (338–397), bishop of Milan
379	† Basil the Great (329–379)
380	† Macrina (324–380)
381	Emperor Theodosius I [379–395] declares Christianity as state religion
381	2nd Ecumenical Council: Constantinople—Nicene creed confirmed, divinity of Holy Spirit
389	† Gregory of Nazianzus (329–389)
390	Permanent division of Roman Empire into East & West
395	Augustine, bishop of Hippo [395–430]
395	† Gregory of Nyssa (335–395)
397	† Martin of Tours (316–397)
400	Conversion of Picts (Scotland) by Ninian
401	Confessions by Augustine
405	Vulgate (Latin Bible) by Jerome (347–420)
407	† John Chrysostom (347–407)
410	Fall of Rome by Alaric & Visigoths
410	Invasion of Gaul & Spain by Vandals
410	Pelagian controversy
420	† Pelagius (369–420)
401	City of God by Augustine
430	† Augustine of Hippo (354–430)
431	3rd Ecumenical Council: Ephesus—Nestorius condemned
435	Patrick’s (389–461) mission in Ireland
436	Last Roman troops leave Britain
440	Pope Leo I [440–461]
451	4th Ecumenical Council: Chalcedon—two natures of Christ
452	Invasion of Italy by Attia the Hun
453	Leo I negotiates with Attila
455	Vandals sack Rome
470	Mayan civilization flourishes in Mexico
476	Odoacer (German general) ends western Roman Empire
482	Henotikon (“act of union”) issued by Byzantine emperor Zeno
493	Theodoric the Ostrogoth, king of Romans [493–526]
496	Clovis the Frank (466–511) baptized
526	† Theodoric the Great (454–526), ruler of Ostrogoths
527	Emperor Justinian I [527–565]
528	Benedictine Order founded by Benedict of Nursia (480–547) at Monte Cassino monastery (Italy)
532	St. Sophie (Constantinople) [532–537]
533	Expansion of Byzantine Empire by General Belisarius [533–554]
550	Crucifix becomes an ornament
550	Conversion of Wales
553	5th Ecumenical Council: Constantinople II—Antiochene theologians condemned
563	Colomba’s mission in Scotland
568	Lombards invade Italy
589	King Recared (Visigoth in Spain) converted
590	Pope Gregory the Great [590–604]

Era 3: Medieval Church (1): Expansion & Conflicts
(AD 600–1000)

600	Conversion of the Angles & Saxons by Augustine of Canterbury (??–604)
618	CHINA—Tang Dynasty [618–907]
622	Book printing in China
622	Mohammad flees from Mecca to Medina
630	Mohammad takes Mecca
632	† Mohammad (570–632)
635	Nestorians’ mission in China
640	Aidan’s mission in Northumbria
643	Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem)
663	Synod of Whitby—England under papacy
680	6th Ecumenical Council: Constantinople III—Pope Honorius condemned
690	Willibrord’s mission to Frisians (Holland)
700	Easter eggs first used by Christians
700	The Lindisfarne Gospels (religious art)
711	Moors in Spain
720	Conversion of the Goths in Germany by Boniface
725	Iconoclastic controversy
730	Ecclesiastical History of England by Bede
732	Battle of Tours—Moors defeated
744	Benedictine monastery founded in Fulda (Germany)
754	Beginning of Papal States by donation of Pepin
772	Charlemagne attacks Saxons (Germany)
781	Nestorian monasteries founded in China
787	7th Ecumenical Council: Nicea II—veneration of icons
790	Vikings invade Europe [790–870]
796	Alcuin revises the Vulgate text
800	Charlemagne (742–814), emperor of Holy Roman Empire
827	Anskar’s mission in Denmark
845	Norsemen (Vikings) take Paris
857	Photius (820–893), Patriarch of Constantinople
863	Cyril & Methodius’ mission to the Slavs in Moravia
869	Council of Constantinople IV of RCC [869–870]—Photius excommunicated
879	Council of Constantinople IV of Eastern Church [879–880]—schism of Photius ended
910	Cluniac Order founded at Abbey of Cluny (France)
917	King of Bulgaria becomes “czar”
921	Conversion of Bohemia
927	Patriarchate of Bulgaria
950	Queen Olga of Russia converted
960	CHINA—Song Dynasty [960–1279]
962	Otto the Great (912–973), emperor
966	Conversion of King of Poland
993	First saints canonized

Era 4: Medieval Church (2): Growth & Decline of the Papacy
(AD 1000–1500)

1000	Conversion of Greenland & Iceland
1000	Apex of Mayan civilization in Yucatan
1054	Schism of East-West Churches
1059	College of cardinals to elect pope
1063	St. Mark’s (Venice)
1065	Westminster Abbey (London)
1066	Battle of Hastings: William the Conqueror, king of England
1077	Canossa (Italy)—humiliation of Emperor Henry IV by Pope Gregory VII (1020–1085)
1081	Alexius I Comnenus, Eastern emperor [1081–1118]
1084	Carthusian Order founded in Chartreuse
1093	Anselm (1033–1109), archbishop of Canterbury [1093–1109]
1095	Council of Clermont—First Crusade authorized
1096	First Crusade [1096–1099]
1098	Cistercian Order founded at Abbey of Citeaux (France)
1099	† El Cid (1044–1099)
1099	Crusaders take Jerusalem
1122	Concordat of Worms—compromise between king & pope
1122	Sic et Non by Peter Abelard
1123	Council of Lateran I—Concordat of Worms confirmed
1139	Council of Lateran II—clerical celibacy
1142	† Peter Abelard (1079–1142)
1147	Second Crusade [1147–1149]
1150	University of Paris
1152	Frederick Barbarossa, emperor [1152–1190]
1153	† Bernard of Clairvaux (1090–1153)
1160	Cathedral building booms in the West
1160	† Peter Lombard (1100–1160)
1163	Notre Dame (Paris)
1167	University of Oxford
1170	† Thomas Becket (1118–1170, murdered)
1179	Waldensians founded under Peter Waldo
1179	Council of Lateran III—election method for popes
1188	Third Crusade [1188–1192]
1198	Pope Innocent III [1198–1216]
1202	Fourth Crusade [1202–1204]
1209	Franciscan Order founded by Francis of Assisi (1181–1226)
1209	Cambridge University
1212	Francis of Assisi’s mission in Syria
1212	Battle of Navas de Tolosa—defeat of Muslims in Spain
1215	Magna Carta signed in England
1215	Council of Lateran IV—transubstantiation
1216	Dominican Order founded by Dominic Guzman (1170–1221)
1245	Council of Lyons I—Emperor Frederick II deposed
1248	Cologne Cathedral
1265	Summa Theologica [1265–1273] by Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)
1271	CHINA—Yuan Dynasty [1271–1368]
1274	† Bonaventure (1221–1274)
1274	Council of Lyons II—nominal union of Rome & Constantinople
1291	Fall of Acre—End of Crusader presence in Holy Land
1294	Friar John Montecorvino arrives in Beijing
1294	Pope Boniface VIII [1294–1303]
1294	Florence Cathedral
1302	Papal Bull Unam sanctam—claiming supreme authority
1303	Pope Boniface VIII’s humiliation at Anagni
1307	Divine Comedy [1307–1321] by Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)
1309	“Babylonian Captivity”—papacy moved to Avignon [1309–1377]
1311	Council of Vienne [1311–1312]—Templars suppressed
1327	† Johannes Eckhart (1260–1327)
1328	William of Ockham (1288–1349) excommunicated
1337	Hundred Years’ War [1337–1453]
1348	Black Death in Europe (periodic outbreaks until 1771)
1368	CHINA—Ming Dynasty [1368–1644]
1377	End of “Babylonian Captivity”
1378	Great Western Schism [1378–1417]
1380	Early Reformer: John Wycliffe condemned at Oxford
1380	† Catherine of Siena (1347–1380)
1381	† John Wycliffe (1320–1384)
1384	Wycliffe Bible by John Wycliffe
1384	† John of Ruysbroeck (1293–1381)
1402	Early Reformer: Jan Huss (1369–1415), rector at Prague
1409	Council of Pisa—third pope elected
1413	Lollard rebellion by followers of Wycliffe in England
1414	Council of Constance [1414–1418]—end of Schism, Jan Huss martyred
1418	Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471)
1420	First crusade against Bohemian Hussites—all 3 crusades defeated
1423	End of Great Schism—death of Avignon pope
1425	Portuguese voyages of discovery
1431	† Joan of Arc [Jeanne d’Arc] (1412–1431)
1431	Council of Basel/Ferrara-Florence [1431–1445]—nominal reunion with Constantinople
1440	Gutenberg introduces printing
1450	Conversion of the New World [1450–1550] by Spanish & Portuguese monks
1453	Fall of Constantinople under Turks
1460	† Henry the Navigator (1394–1460)
1476	† Hans Bohm, leader of peasant uprising
1478	Spanish Inquisition [1478–1834]
1492	Surrender of Granada—Reconquista completed
1492	Columbus (1451–1506) arrives in America
1494	Early Reformer: Savonarola stands against papal immorality
1495	Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper”
1496	Michelangelo’s “Pieta”
1497	Vasco da Gama (1460–1524) reaches India
1498	† Early Reformer: Girolamo Savonarola (1452–1498)

Era 5: Modern Church (1): Reformation & Struggles
(AD 1500–1700)

1500	Portuguese Pedro Alvares Cabral (1467–1520) discovers Brazil
1510	Portuguese settle in Goa, India
1512	Council of Lateran V [1512–1517]—Council of Pisa condemned
1513	Spanish Vasco Núñez de Balboa reaches the Pacific
1513	Spanish Juan Ponce de Leon explores Florida
1515	Greek New Testament by Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536)
1517	Luther posts Ninety-five Theses [Reformation]
1518	Zwingli becomes people’s priest in Zurich [Reformation]
1518	Melanchthon meets Luther at Wittenberg [Reformation]
1521	Diet of Worms—Luther defends his Theses [Reformation]
1521	Fall of Tenochtitlan (Aztec)
1523	Martin Bucer (1491–1551) leads Reformation in Strasbourg [Reformation]
1523	Anabaptists arise in Europe [Reformation]
1524	Peasants’ rebellion
1525	English New Testament by William Tyndale (1494–1536, martyred)
1529	Marburg Colloquy—Luther & Zwingli meet to settle dispute on eucharist [Reformation]
1530	Augsburg Confession drafted by Philipp Melanchthon (1497–1560) [Reformation]
1530	Cardinal Contarini strives for reconciliation with Protestants [Counter Reformation]
1531	† Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531)
1532	Capture of Emperor Atahualpa (Inca)
1533	Thomas Cranmer (1489–1556), archbishop of Canterbury [Reformation]
1533	Teresa enters monastery at Avila [Counter Reformation]
1533	Ivan the Terrible, Russia [1533–1584]
1534	Luther Bible
1534	King Henry VIII breaks with Rome, Anglican Church formed [Reformation]
1535	Fall of Munster (Dutch Anabaptists) [Reformation]
1536	Institutes of the Christian Religion [1536–1559] by John Calvin
1537	Calvin supports Farel in Geneva [Reformation]
1540	Society of Jesus (Jesuits) founded by Ignatius Loyola [Counter Reformation]
1541	Spanish Hernando de Soto explores the Mississippi
1542	Francis Xavier’s (1506–1552) mission in India
1545	Council of Trent [1545–1563]—Protestants condemned [Counter Reformation]
1546	† Martin Luther (1483–1546)
1548	Spiritual Exercises by Ignatius Loyola (1491–1556)
1547	“Bloody” Queen Mary [1553–1558]
1553	John Knox studies in Geneva [Reformation]
1555	Peace of Augsburg [Reformation]
1557	Portuguese settle in Macau
1558	Queen Elizabeth I [1558–1603]
1561	† Menno Simons (1496–1561)
1562	Wars of religion in France [1562–1598]
1564	† John Calvin (1509–1564)
1566	Uprising in the Netherlands
1572	Massacre of St. Bartholomew’s Day (France)—100,000 Huguenots murdered
1572	† John Knox (1510–1572)
1576	Pacification of Ghent—united front of Dutch provinces
1582	Rheims-Doual New Testament
1583	Matteo Ricci (1552–1610) in China
1584	† William of Orange (“the Silent”) (1533–1584)
1587	† Mary Stuart (1542–1587) executed for treason
1588	Spanish Armada defeated
1589	Patriarchate of Moscow created
1598	Edict of Nantes—religious freedom for Huguenots
1605	Roberto de Nobili’s mission to India
1605	Gunpowder plot—English Catholics’ plan to blow up James I & Parliament
1607	Founding of Jamestown, Virginia
1608	Evangelical Union in Germany
1609	† Jakob Arminius (1560–1609)
1609	Catholic League in Germany
1610	Rheims-Doual Old Testament
1611	King James’ Version
1612	First English Baptists
1614	St. Peter’s Brasilica (Rome) completed
1618	Synod of Dort—Dutch Reformed Church condemns Arminianism
1618	Thirty Years’ War [1618–1648]
1620	Mayflower pilgrims reach New England
1622	Pope Gregory XV founds Propaganda—missionary arm
1624	Cardinal Richelieu’s government in France [1624–1642]
1627	Siege of Huguenots’ La Rochelle stronghold
1629	Rene Descartes (1596–1650) establishes rationalism
1629	Treaty of Lubeck—end of Danish involvement in Germany
1630	Puritan migration to New World
1630	Taj Mahal (Agra, India)
1632	† Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden (1594–1632)
1636	Founding of Providence, Rhode Island
1637	Discourse on Method by Rene Descartes
1637	Christianity exterminated from Japan
1638	Anne Hutchinson in Rhode Island
1640	Long Parliament in England [1640–1660]
1642	† Galileo Galilei (1564–1642)
1642	Civil War in England [1642–1651]
1644	CHINA—Qing Dynasty [1644–1911]
1646	John Eliot, Puritan missionary to the Indians
1648	Treaty of Westphalia—end of Thirty Years’ War
1648	Quakers founded by George Fox (1624–1691)
1649	Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658) & Commonwealth in England [1649–1660]
1650	Reform of Russian Orthodox Church
1653	Cromwell’s Protectorate [1653–1658]
1656	Quakers persecuted in Massachusetts
1663	Société des missions etrangères founded in Paris
1664	British take New Amsterdam (later renamed New York)
1665	Isaac Newton (1643–1727) experiments on gravity
1666	Pietism established by Philipp Spener (1635–1705)
1667	Paradise Lost by John Milton (1608–1674)
1675	King Philip’s War—native Indians defeated in New England
1675	St. Paul’s Cathedral (London) begun
1675	Pia Desideria by Philipp Spener
1678	Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan (1628–1688)
1681	Founding of Pennsylvania
1682	Quakers found Philadelphia
1685	Revocation of Edict of Nantes in France—persecution of Huguenots
1689	Tolerance in England—non-Anglicans accepted
1690	Essay on Human Understanding by John Locke (1632–1704)
1695	Pietist centre at Halle founded by August Francke (1663–1727)
1698	Missions: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) founded in London

Era 6: Modern Church (2): Revival & Missions
(AD 1700–1900)

1705	Revival: Danish-Halle Mission founded
1706	Missions: Lutheran Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg’s mission in India
1722	Revival: Count Zinzendorf (1700–1760) establishes Herrnhut for Moravians
1722	Missions: Paul Egede’s mission in Greenland
1730	Revival: First Great Awakening [1730s–1740s]—led by Jonathan Edwards & Whitefield
1732	Missions: Moravians’ mission in Virgin Islands
1733	Founding of Georgia (last of 13 colonies)
1735	Revival: Welsh revival: conversion of Howell Harris
1736	Missions: John Wesley’s (1703–1791) mission in Georgia
1737	Missions: Georg Schmidt’s mission in South Africa
1738	Revival: John Wesley’s Aldersgate experience
1739	Revival: John Wesley, Charles Wesley, & George Whitefield preach in open air
1743	Revival: David Brainerd’s mission to native Americans
1750	Missions: C.F. Schwartz’s mission in India
1750	Revival: Jonathan Edwards’s (1703–1758) mission to native Americans
1767	Jesuits expelled from Spanish colonies
1768	Beginning of Captain James Cook’s (1728–1779) voyages
1772	† Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772)
1773	Jesuits suppressed by pope
1774	Social reform: John Howard (1726–1790) fights for prison reform
1775	American War of Independence [1775–1783]
1778	† Voltaire (1694–1778)
1780	Social reform: Sunday School Movement founded to educate poor children
1780	Steam engine invented by James Watts
1780	Tupac Amaru rebellion—peasants against Spanish control in Peru
1781	Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant (1724–1804)
1784	Revival: American Methodist revival under Francis Asbury (1745–1816)
1784	Methodist Episcopal Church in USA
1778	Tolerance in France
1787	Friedrich Schleiermacher (1768–1834) at Halle University
1787	Social reform: William Wilberforce (1759–1833) against slavery
1789	French Revolution [1789–1799]—taking of the Bastille
1791	Legislative Assembly in France
1792	Particular Baptist Society
1793	Missions: William Carey’s (1761–1834) mission in India
1793	Terror in France
1795	Missions: London Missionary Society
1798	Pope Pius VI imprisoned in France
1798	Roman Republic
1799	Founding of Sierra Leone
1799	Missions: Church Missionary Society
1799	Speeches by Friedrich Schleiermacher
1800	Revival: Second Great Awakening [1800s–1830s]—led by Timothy Dwight (1752–1817)
1801	Revival: Cane Ridge revival
1803	Louisiana purchase
1804	Napoleon emperor (1769–1821)
1804	Missions: British & Foreign Bible Society
1804	Independence of Haiti
1805	Missions: Henry Martyn’s mission in India
1806	End of Holy Roman Empire
1806	British in Cape of Good Hope
1807	Missions: Robert Morrison’s (1782–1834) mission in China
1807	Social reform: Britain abolishes slave trade (again in 1833)
1807	Phenomenology of the Spirit by Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831)
1808	French occupy Rome
1808	Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain
1810	Independence of Mexico
1810	Missions: American Board of Commissioners
1812	Missions: Adoniram Judson’s mission in Burma
1812	British-American War [1812–1815]
1812	Napoleon in Russia
1814	Jesuits reorganized
1815	Battle of Waterloo—Napoleon defeated
1816	Missions: American Bible Society
1817	Social reform: Elizabeth Fry (1780–1845) fights for prison reform
1820	First iron steamboat
1821	Independence of Peru & Central America
1821	Christian Faith by Friedrich Schleiermacher
1823	Monroe Doctrine
1825	Revival: Adolphe Monod preaches in France
1826	Social reform: American Society for the Promotion of Temperance
1826	Panama Congress—promotion of unity of Americas
1829	Social reform: Abolition of slavery in Mexico
1830	Book of Mormon
1830	Revival: Swiss under Cesar Malan
1830	Course of Positive Philosophy by Auguste Comte (1798–1857)
1835	Life of Christ by David Strauss (1808–1874)
1835	Social reform: Faith orphanage founded in Bristol by George Műller (1805–1898)
1835	Boer migration
1836	Revival: Scottish under Robert Murray M’Cheyne (1813–1843)
1836	Republic of Texas
1838	Social reform: Abolition of slavery in British Caribbean
1839	Opium War in China
1840	Social reform: Lord Shaftesbury (1801–1885) secures child-labour laws
1840	Missions: Roman Catholic mission revived
1841	Brooke government in Sarawak
1841	Missions: David Livingston’s (1813–1873) mission in Africa
1843	Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard (1813–1855)
1844	Social reform: YMCA founded
1845	“Manifest destiny” coined by John O’Sullivan
1845	Social reform: Methodists & Baptists split over slavery
1846	Mexican-American War [1846–1848]
1847	Independence of Liberia
1847	Famine in Ireland, mass migration to USA
1848	Revolutions in Europe, Second Republic in France
1848	Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx (1818–1883) & Friedrich Engels (1820–1895)
1849	Roman Republic
1850	Taiping rebellion in China [1850–1865]
1852	Count of Cavour, prime minister of Piedmont (Italy)
1852	Napoleon III
1853	Missions: Hudson Taylor’s (1832–1905) mission in China
1854	Dogma of Immaculate Conception of Mary
1854	US Commodore Perry forces Japan to open border
1859	Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin (1809–1882)
1861	Unification of Italy
1861	American Civil War [1861–1865]
1861	Social reform: Presbyterians divide over slavery
1862	Congregation of Eastern Rites
1862	Bismarck, chancellor of Prussia
1863	Social reform: Emancipation of slaves in USA
1863	Social reform: Salvation Army founded by William Booth (1829–1912)
1864	Missions: Father Damien’s mission in Hawaii
1864	Missions: Samuel Crowther, first African Anglican bishop
1864	Syllabus of Errors by Pope Pius IX—freedom of worship & rationalism condemned
1865	Catholics persecuted in Korea
1865	Missions: China Inland Mission founded by Hudson Taylor
1869	Council: Vatican I [1869–1870]—papal infallibility
1870	Franco-Prussian War [1870–1871]
1871	Unification of Germany
1873	Revival: British Crusade [1873–1875] of Dwight Moody (1837–1899)
1874	Social reform: mission to lepers founded
1875	Telephone invented
1875	Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910)
1876	Missions: Mary Slessor’s mission in Nigeria
1880	Revival: Third Great Awakening [1880s–1900s]—led by Moody & Ira Sankey (1840–1908)
1880	Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud (1856–1939)
1884	Missions: Protestant missionaries in Korea
1885	Missions: C.T. Studd’s mission in China
1886	Revival: Moody Bible Institute
1886	Revival: Conversion of Billy Sunday (1862–1935)
1891	Encyclical Rerum novarum—on labourers & employers
1892	US Supreme Court approves segregation
1895	Five Fundamentals
1895	Ecumenism: Student Christian Movements (SCM) form Federation (WSCF)
1898	Spanish-American War
1899	Boxer rebellion in China

Era 7: Modern Church (3): Ecumenism & Adaptations
(AD 1900–2000)

1901	Modern Pentecostalism begun by Charles Parham (1873–1929)
1903	Wright brothers aeroplan flight
1904	Revival: Welsh under Evan Roberts [1904–1906]
1906	Revival: Azusa Street Penteostal revival [1906–1909]
1907	Encyclical Pascendi domini gregis—modernists condemned
1908	Belgian Congo
1909	Scofield Bible
1910	Afghanistan, Nepal, Tibet closed to Christians
1910	Japan annexes Korea
1910	Ecumenism: 1st World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, Scotland
1911	CHINA—Republic
1914	Assemblies of God founded (Pentecostalism)
1914	World War I [1914–1918]
1917	Russian Revolution
1919	Commentary on Romans by Karl Barth (1886–1968)—breaks with liberalism
1919	Prohibition of alcohol in USA [1919–1933]
1920	Women’s suffrage in USA
1921	Ecumenism: International Missionary Council (IMC) founded
1922	Mussolini in Rome
1922	Between the Times—neo-orthodox magazine in Germany [1922–1933]
1925	Ecumenism: 1st Life and Work Conference at Stockholm, Sweden
1925	Ecumenism: United Church of Canada
1926	Television invented
1926	First six Chinese Catholic bishops
1927	Ecumenism: 1st Faith and Order Conference at Lausanne, Switzerland
1927	Ecumenism: Church of Christ in China
1927	Mexico confiscates church property
1928	Ecumenism: 1st IMC at Jerusalem
1929	Stock Market Crash, Great Depression [1929–1939]
1929	The Social Sources of Denominationalism by Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971)
1929	Lateran Accord between pope & Mussolini
1930	Christus Victor by Gustaf Aulen (1879–1978)
1930	Agape and Eros by Anders Nygren (1890–1978)
1931	Spanish Republic
1931	Encyclical Quadragesimo anno—on social teachings
1931	Encyclical Non abbiamo bisogno—against Fascism
1932	Church Dogmatics by Karl Barth
1933	Hitler comes to power
1933	Vatican concordat with Germany
1933	Roosevelt US president
1934	Barmen Declaration by Confessional Church in Germany
1936	Civil War in Spain
1937	Encyclicals against Nazism & Communism
1937	Ecumenism: 2nd Life and Work Conference at Oxford, England
1937	Ecumenism: 2nd Faith and Order Conference at Edinburgh, Scotland
1937	Japan invades China
1937	The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1937	The Kingdom of God in America by Reinhold Niebuhr
1938	Ecumenism: 3rd IMC at Madras, India
1939	Franco’s victory in Spain
1939	Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1939	World War II [1939–1945]
1940	The New Testament and Mythology by Rudolf Bultmann (1884–1976)
1941	Germany attacks Russia
1941	Japan attacks Pearl Harbour
1941	The Nature and Destiny of Man by Reinhold Niebuhr
1942	Wycliffe Bible Translators founded by Cameron Townsend (1896–1982)
1943	Fall of Mussolini
1943	Encyclical Divino afflante Spiritu—modern biblical study encouraged
1945	† Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945, executed by Nazis)
1945	Nuclear bombs on Hiroshima & Nagasaki
1945	United Nations founded
1945	Independence of Philippines & Indonesia
1946	United Bible Societies
1947	Dead Sea Scrolls discovered
1947	Church of South India
1947	Independence of India
1947	Ecumenism: 4th IMC at Whitby, England
1948	Ecumenism: World Council of Churches (WCC) founded at Amsterdam, Holland
1948	State of Israel founded
1949	Billy Graham (1918– ) mass crusades [1949–2007]
1949	CHINA—People’s Republic established by communists
1950	Dogma of Assumption of Mary
1950	Korean War [1950–1953]
1950	Encyclical Humani generis—innovations in theology warned
1952	Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) receives Nobel Peace Prize
1952	US Supreme Court against segregation in US public schools
1952	Ecumenism: 5th IMC at Willingen, Germany
1954	Worker priest movement suspended
1954	Ecumenism: 2nd WCC at Evanston, Illinois
1955	Ecumenism: Conference of Latin American Bishops (CELAM) founded
1957	Independence of Ghana
1957	Ecumenism: 6th IMC at Ghana
1959	Pope John XXIII [1958–1963] announces intention to call a council
1960	Pope creates Secretariat for Christian Unity
1960	Independence of 17 African nations
1961	Encyclical Mater et Magistra—social activism approved
1961	First human in space flight
1961	Ecumenism: 3rd WCC at New Delhi, India; IMC joins WCC
1962	Council: Vatican II [1962–1965]—liturgical renewal, response to modern world
1963	Honest to God by John Robinson
1965	Theology of Hope by Jürgen Moltmann (1926– )
1965	Vietnam War [1959–1975] escalates
1968	Encyclical Humanae vitae—artificial birth control banned
1968	† Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968)
1968	Ecumenism: CELAM at Medellin, Colombia
1968	Ecumenism: 4th WCC at Uppsala, Sweden
1969	Astronauts land on the moon
1973	Chicago Declaration of Evangelical Social Concern
1974	Ecumenism: Lausanne Covenant, International Congress on World Evangelization Global congresses: Lausanne [1974], Manila [1989], Cape Town [2010]; & 10 major gatherings
1974	Fall of Haile Selassie in Ethiopia
1975	Ecumenism: 5th WCC at Nairobi, Kenya
1976	Ecumenism: Lausanne Movement: 1st Chinese Congress on World Evangelization (CCOWE) in Hong Kong [7th in 2006]
1978	Ecumenism: CELAM at Puebla, Mexico
1982	Ecumenism: Lausanne Movement at Grand Rapids (Evangelism & social responsibility)
1983	Ecumenism: 6th WCC at Vancouver, Canada
1984	† Francis Schaeffer (1912–1984)
1989	Tienanmen Square massacre in China
1989	Ecumenism: 2nd Lausanne Movement Global Congress at Manila, Philippines
1990	Collapse of communism in eastern Europe
1990	Catechism of the Catholic Church
1992	Ecumenism: 7th WCC at Canberra, Australia
1993	Chicago Declaration II by liberal evangelicals
1998	Ecumenism: 8th WCC at Hirare, Zimbabwe

Era 8: Postmodern Church: World Evangelism
(AD 2000–??)

2001	Terrorists bomb USA
2001	War in Afghanistan
2003	War in Iraq
2003	† Carl Henry (1913–2003)
2005	† Pope John Paul II (1920–2005), succeeded by Benedict XVI (1927– )
2006	Ecumenism: 9th WCC at Porto Alegre, Brazil
2007	Billy Graham retires from mass crusades

Legends:

Date in red: Political or cultural event

Purple: significant person († = death)

Green: Church council

Dark blue italics: book/document

Bold type: Large-scale Movement, e.g. Revival, Missions

Blue: minor item, e.g. building

Square brackets = duration of events; Round brackets = life span of persons

SOURCES: Collected from various references listed in the Bibliography.