Short History of the Church Ireland

The Church of Ireland traces its history back to the coming of Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century. Kenneth Milne here outlines briefly and simply that history from the beginning, down through the Reformation period, when the church was established as the State church. There followed centuries of plantations and penal laws until eventually, in the nineteenth century, the church was disestablished. The final chapter brings the story through changing times to our own day. The book attempts to tell the story of the Church in the context of Irish history, helping the reader to understand some of the situations in which the Church found itself, and still finds itself. Kenneth Milne was Principal of the Church of Ireland College of Education, Dublin. He represents the Church of Ireland on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, and was chairman of the Irish Society for Archives. He is Keeper of the Archives of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.