Perhaps there has not been an age such as this when it has become so important to know and grasp something of the history of the Church, not least in the growth, struggles, ministry and witness of the first centuries of the early Church. Patrick Whitworth takes us on this journey in an admirably clear, accessible and thoughtful way.

Within this double narrative, the Fathers of the Early Church lived, taught, and often died for their faith. The strength of this book is the vivid telling of their stories. We are introduced to Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and the towering figure of Origen. They are placed in their political context, their life stories are vividly recounted, and there are lengthy extracts from their written works; so we can read their ideas in their own words. We sense their vitality and creativity, and see how they shaped the future Church.

This trilogy constitutes a lucid and masterly overview of the patristic period in terms of its theology and historical context. ... These are books that can be read and re-read with profit and also enjoyment. The writer, and those who commend these volumes, are united in their view that Christians need an accurate understanding of the significance of the Church Fathers for the life of the Church today. To succumb to cultural amnesia is not a Christian virtue, for in Christianity, a living past alone can guide and nurture a living present. This is part of what it means to believe in the Communion of Saints.

One of the merits of this book is the way in which the historical scene in the Roman Empire is set at every turn as a prelude to consideration of the Church's doctrinal and organisational development. Another achievement is to bring to life the various Church Fathers being discussed in vivid vignettes and well-documented discussion. The book is enjoyable to read and memorable in places too.

Utterly readable, even if you have no knowledge of the subject matter, yet also thoroughly researched and historically accurate.

A rapid, detailed and accurate narrative, full of picturesque scenes drawn directly from contemporary witnesses to the rise of Christianity in the Roman world. Whitworth writes with admiring passion, but does not disguise the human peculiarities and frailties of the protagonists. At all times we are aware of the importance of locality, and the shifts in Christian thought and practice are seen to result from changing relations to the ambient culture, a leading cause of which was the success of the church itself.