Faith of Our Fathers: Scenes from American Church History

by Mark Sidwell

Faith of Our Fathers: Scenes from American Church History, edited by Mark Sidwell, is an overview of events and people from American church history. Study the lives of Anne Bradstreet, Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Morse, and Billy Sunday. Discover the contributions of the men and women who answered the Lord’s call to evangelize the vast and virgin expanse of untamed America. Travel with the circuit riders to twentieth-century evangelists as they blazed a trail for Christ across America. Let church history awaken you to the richness of America’s Christian foundation.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

181 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 10, 1989

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since Goodreads didn't include it, the full title of this book is: Faith of Our Fathers: Scenes from American Church History. It's divided into three eras. The first is The Colonial Era, from 1607-1776. The second is The Early National Era, from 1776-1865. The last is The Modern Era, from 1865 to the present. Each era has a number of short (3-6 pages) vignettes, by various authors, of notable Christian leaders. There are a few women included such as Anne Bradstreet, Narcissa Whitman, and Fanny Crosby.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this little book.

[Adam T. Calvert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read on American protestant history throughout the early colonial period to the early 20th century. The collection is eclectic and chosen by the editor to feature some famous figures in church history as well as those who had a major impact in America but are not as well known.

Various authors help the read to stay engaging throughout.

Very enjoyable for a history book!

[Dr. Jon Pirtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful collection of biographical sketches of and reflections upon Christians from Jamestown, VA and Puritans in New England up to the 20th century. Faithfulness is all.

[Matt Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a non-American, I was a bit skeptical about the focus of this book. I only read it because I enjoyed Mark Sidwell's previous book on early church history. To my surprise, reading it was a complete delight.

It completely engaged me and I have subsequently read more works from the chapter bibliographies.

A subject which does not receive much coverage outside the US but I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the providence of God.

I would not hesitate to recommend it even for those who are 'bored' by most Church history books.

[Matt Stratton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should not be used as a definitive work on Church history but rather a collection of accounts which are both readable and engaging for the casual purveyor of Church history.

I particularly liked the fact that each of the accounts were short with a reference list if you wished to read deeper. This suits the reader who just wants to read a few pages each evening.

[Andy]

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[Charlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very odd selection of topical and biographical essays on church history. The "our" in the title refers to a small niche of separatist Protestants. Most of the essays are weak in content.