Ecclesiastical History of England, Volume 1—The Church of the Civil Wars

A vivid portrait of England’s religious landscape during the tumultuous years of the Long Parliament and the rise of the Commonwealth, this work brings the era’s spiritual conflicts to life. Drawing on state papers, manuscript collections, and the treasures of the British Museum, the author weaves together the stories of Anglican, Puritan, and other dissenting voices, showing how their beliefs shaped—and were shaped by—the political upheaval around them.

The narrative balances scholarly rigor with readable prose, offering fresh illustrations of key figures and events without favoring any single faction. It reveals the everyday devotion, doctrinal debates, and personal convictions that animated churches, universities, and parish life, while remaining honest about the passions and failures on all sides. Listeners will come away with a nuanced understanding of how faith and politics intertwined in a century that reshaped English religious identity.