The Pilgrim Church

Rating:
Summary: a record you won't find elsewhere
Review: Broadbent's book falsifies the notion that until the reformation, the church was simply one big happy family with no troubles. Far from that, Broadbent shows that there have always been individuals and groups who strove for a biblical basis for their faith and practice. Often they were persecuted or maligned, sometimes killed, but the record stands. The book is an exciting account of these people, and one which every christian should read.

Rating:
Summary: He who doesn't know history is condemned to repeat it.
Review: I read this book to learn more about the 'other side' of church history...where the heretics weren't really heretics at all--just labeled that way by those who did not agree with them. Similar to how the media works today. I got that history plus a lot more.
It was so interesting to see how so many ideas that seem new today have been lived out over and over through the centuries. Issues in christianity that are controversial today are nothing new. The nice part is that by reading the history one can see how choices worked out repeatedly and consistently through the centuries. As you would pray about what the Lord would have you to do read the book and maybe save yourself some effort and heartache--see how it worked out for others first!

Rating:
Summary: A excelent portrayal of the history of the Church
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Church History. This is one of the foremost authority in Church History along with Phillip Schaf's work. The book looks at church history from the viewpoint of the "underground" Church throughout the last 2000 years up to the early 1920's (Thus it doesn't include Watchman Nee's local churches in China which arose in the early 1920's and 1930's.) This in contrast to the history of the organised Church (ie the Catholic Church, Church of England etc..)
It is well worth having on your bookshelf (after reading it of course).