Today’s free book would prove useful to anyone doing any serious study on the history of the English church. It contains no less than 124 documents (listed below) compiled from original sources. This public domain title was digitised using a copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Henry Gee [1858-1938] & John William Hardy [1857-1919], Documents Illustrative of English Church History, Compiled from Original Sources. London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1921. Hbk. pp.670. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Contents Preface 314. The British Signatories at the Council ..read more

Today’s free book is a translation of the writings of Saint Patrick. This public domain title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Charles Henry Hamilton Wright [1836-1909], The Writings of St. Patrick. The Apostle of Ireland. A Revised Translation with Notes Critical and Historical, 3rd edn. Christian Classics Series VI. London: Religious Tract Society, n.d. Hbk. pp.149. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Contents Introduction Brief Sketch of St. Patrick’s Life Genuine Writings of Patrick Doubtful Remains Appendix—Poetical Versions of the Hymn ..read more

Today’s free book is F J Foakes-Jackson’s history of the Medieval Church, which covers the period 590-1314 AD. This public domain title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Frederick John Foakes Jackson [1855-1941], An Introduction to the History of Christianity A.D. 590-1314. London: MacMillan & Co. Ltd., 1921. Hbk. pp.390. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Contents Preface The Pillars of the Medieval Church The Church and the Empire The So-Called Dark Ages The Church Emopire of the West The Revival and Reorganisation of Papacy The Crusa ..read more

Today’s free title is Herbert B. Workman’s 2 Volume set on Medieval Church History. They cover John Wylif and the English Lollards, the councils of Pisa and Constance and the life and death of John Hus. My thanks to Book Aid for making copies of these public domain titles available for digitisation. Herbert Brook Workman [1862–1951], The Dawn of the Reformation, Vol. 1. The Age of Wyclif. Books for Bible Students. London: Charles H. Kelly, 1901. Hbk. pp.301. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Contents Preface Avignon Seers and Dreamers Wyclif and the Schoolmen Wyclif: P ..read more

Today’s free book traces the history of the schools of philosophy from Plato through to the early Seventeenth Century. This public domain title was digitised from the copy held in the library of Spurgeon’s College. Ernest Crewdson Thomas [1876-1950], History of the Schoolmen. London: Williams & Norgate Ltd., 1941. Hbk. pp.677. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Contents Preface Bibliography Some Medieval-Latin Geographical Names Abbreviations Early Greek Philosophers Plato Aristotle Epicurians—Stoics—Neo-Platonists—St Augustine Learning in Western Europe After the F ..read more

Today’s free book is James Cotter Morison’s biography of Bernard of Clairvaux. Tis public domain title was digitised from the copy of the book held in Spurgeon’s College library. James Cotter Morison [1832-1888], The Life and Times of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux. A.D. 1091–1153. London: MacMillan & Co., Ltd., 1877. Hbk. pp.448. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents Book I Saint Bernard’s Birth—Parents—The First Crusade—Death of Alith, his Mother Choice of a Career—Temptations from Love of Literature—Triumph of Faith—Conversions—Citeaux: its Origi ..read more

Today’s free book is a biography of Bernard of Clairvaux, part of The Fathers of the Church for English Readers series. This public domain work was scanned from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. Samuel John Eales [1839-1896], St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, A.D. 1091-1153. The Fathers of the Church for English Readers. London: SPCK, 1890. Hbk. pp.258. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Contents State of Western Europe before the Time of St. Bernard Parentage and Youth of Bernard The Cistercian Order Monastic Profession and Early Experiences of Bernard Bernard ..read more

Today’s free book is George Forrest Browne biography of The Venerable Bede, part of The Fathers for English Readers series. This public domain volume was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. George Forrest Browne [1833-1930], The Venerable Bede. The Fathers for English Readers. London: SPCK, 1891. Hbk. pp.192. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Table of Contents The Personal History of Bede; Appendix A.—List of Bede’s Writings Appendix B.—The Title “Venerable” The Conversion of Northumbria The Second Conversion of Northumbria Christianity in Northum ..read more

Today’s free book is B.J. Kidd’s study of the medieval doctrine of eucharistic sacrifice. My thanks to Book Aid for making a copy of this public domain title available for digitisation. Beresford James Kidd [1864-1948], The Later Medieval Doctrine of the Eucharistic Sacrifice. London: SPCK, 1958. Pbk. pp.104. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Contents Author’s Note to First Impression Article XXXI, the Starting Point The Medieval Doctrine of the Eucharistic Sacrifice The Later Medieval Doctrine of the Eucharistic Sacrifice Index Main image: The Last Supper by Leonar ..read more

Today’s free book is a biography of Gregory the Great, who was bishop of Rome from 590 AD until his death. “He is known for instigating the first recorded large-scale mission from Rome, the Gregorian Mission, to convert the then-pagan Anglo-Saxons in England to Christianity.” [Wikipedia]. This public domain title was digitised from the copy held in Spurgeon’s College library. James Barmby [1822-1897], Gregory the Great. The Fathers of the Church for English Readers. London: SPCK, 1879. Hbk. pp.207. [Click here to visit the download page for this title] Contents Gregory and his Age—Ascendency ..read more