A good starting point for church history

The Compact History of the Catholic Church by Alan Schreck
Servant Books, 1995

It’s important to understand that this little book wasn’t intended to be a book at all, but rather a teacher’s manuscript for seminars presented in Third World countries. It was designed as a primer, a means by which a basic foundation of Catholic history could be shared with those who otherwise might not have the resources to acquire it. Seen in that light, and assuming the material was placed in the hands of capable instructors, the eight chapters (lessons) contained in this brief historical overview surely must have served their purpose well.

Considering its original purpose, it’s no surprise The Compact History of the Catholic Church is a great place to start for those who have no background or knowledge of church history. Obviously, Schreck just scratches the surface – there’s only so much you can do when covering 2000 years in 173 small paperback pages. For example, the eleventh century occupies just one page in the book. Anyone expecting in-depth analysis or a book that covers every aspect of Catholic history will be disappointed.

However,this compact book is perfect as the first step in a broader examination of historical topics. Schreck does a good job of hitting the major players and movements through the ages, thus providing the inquisitive with enough information to delve more deeply into those people and events that capture their interest. The Compact History of the Catholic Church is by no means a major reference work and was never meant to be. However, it succeeds in providing rudimentary knowledge of church history and establishing a jumping-off point for those whose appetite it whets for more.