This book, originally published as The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity, traces the growth and development of Christianity from the earliest communities of believers to a world religion whose adherents will number 2000 million by the end of this century.

The first section deals with Christianity up to 1800, and includes chapters on the effects of the Reformation and the Enlightenment, and on Christianity's relations with the Islamic world. The second part considers Christianity in its worldwide context, with chapters on Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Orthodox Churches of Eastern Europe. A concluding section, 'Christianity Today and Tomorrow', reflects on questions of theology, conscience, and belief and examines the challenges which the modern world poses for the Christian community in the future.