Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited

“James Gorman has masterfully recrafted Richard Hughes’s classic history of the soul of Churches of Christ into a compelling and up-to-date narrative. A rich contribution to the history of American Christianity and the Stone-Campbell movement, this remarkable volume will be the starting point for interpretations of this religious tradition for many years to come.” 
—Douglas A. Foster, Abilene Christian University 
 
“This is the most thorough treatment of this faith tradition so far. A rich book has just become richer.” 
—Edward J. Robinson, author of Hard-Fighting Soldiers: A History of African American Churches of Christ 
 
“James Gorman’s additions and edits to Richard Hughes’s Reviving the Ancient Faith only enhanced its standing among essential texts related to the Stone-Campbell Movement. Students and scholars seeking information related to the history of Churches of Christ will surely pull this book from their shelves first.” 
—Wes Crawford, Abilene Christian University 
 
“This well-balanced new edition includes invaluable information, including twenty-first-century developments on race and gender issues. It carries forward Hughes’s original focus on the character of Churches of Christ, its sectarian roots, and its shift into denominationalism. Gorman’s all-new chapter on fragmentation is essential for understanding the challenges faced by Churches of Christ today. This book is critical reading for those who want to reflect upon sociocultural influences on a conservative tradition and the potential implications for American Protestantism today.” 
—Kathy J. Pulley, Missouri State University

Richard T. Hughes is scholar in residence at Lipscomb University. He is the author of several books, including Myths America Lives By: White Supremacy and the Stories That Give Us Meaning and The Churches of Christ: Student Edition.

James L. Gorman is associate professor of history at Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is also the author of Among the Early Evangelicals: Transatlantic Origins of the Stone-Campbell Movement.   

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations
Preface to the Third Edition
Preface to First Edition  
Introduction: The Character of Churches of Christ 
Part One: The Making of a Sect 
          1. The Rise and Radicalization of Alexander Campbell 
          2. The Apocalyptic Outlook of Churches of Christ 
Part Two: The Making of a Denomination 
          3.  Decline of Apocalypticism and Rise of Christian America 
          4. Grace, Law, and Competing Journalism Styles  
          5. The Fight over Modernization 
          6. Segregation and Independence of Black Churches of Christ 
Part Three: The Fragmentation of a Denomination 
          7. Fragmentation Left and Right in the 1960s and 1970s 
          8. Renewal, Reform, and Resistance from the 1970s to 1990s 
          9. Identity Crisis amid Decline in the Twenty-First Century 
Glossary
Notes 
Bibliography
Index