The rich and varied life of John Donne, the greatest of the metaphysical poets in Elizabethan England. Born into a persecuted Catholic family he ended up as the Dean of St Pauls.By Tim Byron

Today in 1533 Thomas Cranmer was ordained Archbishop of Canterbury, historians mark this as the beginning of the Reformation in England. We look at his opportunistic rise and his downfallBy Tim Byron

Thomas Coram was shocked walking into 18th Century London at the amount of abandoned children he would come across in the streets. This is the story of how he set up his famous foundling hospital - the first incorporated charity in Britain.By Tim Byron

They are a key part of the Christmas season in America.... but where did they come from? How was their reputation established? Did they popularise doughnuts? What are the challenges todayBy Tim Byron

The German Dominican and Theologian Johannes Eckhart became very popular in the late 20th Century because of his Creation Spirituality. Today we look at his life and legacy. Was he a mystic or just a medieval theologian? Did his powerful preaching in fluence Luther?By Tim Byron

One of the most popular Christian Apologists died recently and left multiple victims of abuse. This caused great distress in the Evangelical Community. Amidst all the book burning we look at his legacy and try to understand the tradition he came out of.By Tim Byron

The story of Byzantium and the Emperor Theodosius III who was forced to retire to a monastery with his son. Then the catastrophic 4th crusade, intended for Jerusalem which ended up in sacking ConstantinopleBy Tim Byron

How a Papal Interdict stopped public daily mass in England - a feat that wasn't repeated till the Coronavirus Lockdown. How this ultimately lead to the Magna Carta, the reigning in of a tyrant, and the foundations of individual liberty in the UK and the USABy Tim Byron

How Christian businessman William McGregor started the Football League. A teetotaller, first he cleaned up Aston Villa and then as the game was becoming more professional, he organised regular fixturesBy Tim Byron

He has been described as the greatest American Theologian. We look at Johnathan Edwards and his role in the Christian revivals which swept across the UK and its colonies in the 18th Century. Called the Great Awakening in America or the Evangelical Revival in Britain.By Tim Byron

Pope Pius VII lived under the shadow of Napoleon Bonaparte, which led to him being crowned with a papier-mache papal tiara. Today we look at the story.By Tim Byron

This is the story of one of the most popular saints in England, who was key in nation-building as the Anglo-Saxons emerged from centuries of Viking conquestBy Tim Byron

Described as the bloodiest civil war of all time, with casualties in their tens of millions. Led by a self-proclaimed prophet who believed he was the Brother of Jesus Christ - we look at the Taiping RebellionBy Tim Byron

Called a prince amongst preachers, Surgeon attracted huge crowds to his services in London. After a tragic stampede in a temporary church we remember today how he moved to the purpose-built Metropolitan TabernacleBy Tim Byron

Claiming to be the largest and oldest womans charitable group we look at the founding and the work of the Mormon Relief SocietyBy Tim Byron

We look at the story of Henry Dunant, the founder of the Red Cross. What inspired him? Who signed the first Geneva Convention? What are the controversies around the Emblem used for the Red Cross?By Tim Byron

Cardinal Manning was unusually a widow, and became very influential in Catholic Social Teaching - today we find out why.By Tim Byron

Today we remember the journalist Morgan Stanleys success in finding the lost explorer Dr Livingstone. And why did he become so famous after his death?By Tim Byron

Today a college in Massachusetts was established by vote and named after its largest benefactor the Rev John Harvard, we explore his life and how the college has grown into one of the most famous universities in the world.By Tim Byron

George Berkeley, a father of Empiricism, and Irish Bishop and endower of Yale University lived a fascinating life, We look at his ideas and his legacy in this podcast.By Tim Byron

Today we remember a fire in Serrmapore which destroyed some priceless translations from Sanskrit but brought international fame to the work of William Carey. Covering the founding of the Baptist Missionary Society and the first degree-awarding university in IndiaBy Tim Byron

Today we remember how James Earl Ray confessed to the murder of Rev King. Todays pod takes a brief look at Kings life, his theology and his legacyBy Tim Byron

A chilling story of the death of 40 Roman Soldiers in Lesser Armenia, in 320. They froze to death rather than renounce their Christian faith. WIdely celebrated in the Orthodox World as martyrs.By Tim Byron

We look at today's speech by President Reagan to an Evangelical Congress in Florida. It has gone down in history as the 'Evil Empire Speech' and we examine the context of this and the evangelical base to the Republican PartyBy Tim Byron

We look at the first mass in the vernacular celebrated by Paul VI today in 1965. The roots of the reform and the consequences since.By Tim Byron

Today we remember the birth of possibly the greatest artist of all time, Michelangelo. We look at his work through four classics, the two statues of Pieta and David, the frescos of the Sistine Chapel and the Dome of St Peters in Rome. And we also look at some controversial theories about his genius.By Tim Byron

Today we look at the restless life of English missionary and linguist Roger Williams, and how he established the first Baptist Church in Rhodes IslandBy Tim Byron

Today King Charles II granted a royal charter to Quaker William Pen making him the largest (non-royal) landowner in the world. Thus began his holy experiment of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.By Tim Byron

Today we look at the life of Dominican Hugh of St Cher, his work on producing the first concordance - a milestone in Biblical Studies, and also the first attempt to divide the Bible into chaptersBy Tim Byron

Today we look at the remarkable life of John Wesley, the beginning of Methodism and the death of 'the most loved man in Britain'By Tim Byron

Today we remember how the Mormons left their Wintering Grounds in 1846 for the last part of their journey to establish the state of Utah. They received directions from an unlikely source....By Tim Byron

Today in 1468, Johannes Guttenberg invented a process for mass-producing movable type; mechanising the process, using adjustable moulds and oil-based ink for printing books. This was an epoch changing invention, changing mass communication for ever. We look at its impact and who used itBy Tim Byron

Today's celebration of Candlemas is marked in different ways around the world. We look at the origins in scripture, in pre-Christian Roman practices, and how it is remembered from Mexico to FranceBy Tim Byron

Today in 1516 Erasmus dedicated his amendment to St Jerome's New Testament to Pope Leo X. A great achievement by this 'Prince of Humanists', did it unwittingly trigger the reformation? We look today at the history of Biblical Translation and how Erasmus' work became influentialBy Tim Byron

Today in 1867, the Maronite Nationalist Leader Karam was sent into exile by the French. We look at the long fight for Lebanese independence, and today we look at St Maron, the church in Lebanon and its struggle for recognition,By Tim Byron

Today in 1661, Oliver Cromwell's dead body was exhumed and beheaded in revenge for his execution of King Charles I on Jan 30 in 1649. We look at how Cromwells puritanism motivated him, his disputed legacy, and Englands brief experiment with republicanismBy Tim Byron

Today we look at the life of Katarina Von Bora, who after a daring escape from a convent, married Martin Luther, had 6 children and ran many successful enterprises. We also take a tentative look at her influence on her husband.By Tim Byron

Todays pod looks at the incredible story of the walk to Canossa, where in the dead of winter, Henry IV crossed the Alps by foot in a penitential act. Today Pope Gregory VII lifted his excommunication.By Tim Byron

Today in 1302, Italy's finest poet and some say the father of the Italian language, Dante Alighieri was exiled from Florence. In exile, he wrote the Divine Comedy, the greatest poem of the middle ages, and an allegory of the Soul's journey to God. Hear all about it in today's pod.By Tim Byron

In 1950 on Jan 26 the Constitution of India came into force, forming a republic. One of the oldest civilisations in the world, India is officially a secular country nut with a deeply religious population. With 80% of the huge population identifying as Hindu with Christians about 2% of the population, but with a huge impact on education. Today's pod…

A group of Jesuit missionaries built a mission on top of a steep hill on the Piratiningha plains. As part of the mission they founded the Colégio de São Paulo de Piratininga today on January 25, 1554. Around the mission, grew up the Portuguese village of São Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga which is now the most populous city in Brasil, and the four…

Today in 1918 the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Russia by decree of the Council of People's Commissars making its coverage almost universal. Today's pod looks at the history of it, why it was needed and how it was rolled out.... Enjoy!By Tim Byron

Today in 1829 – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust receives its premiere performance, we look at the story behind the greatest work of German Literature.By Tim Byron

The final session of the Council of Trent opened today in 1562. This would define Catholicism for the next four hundred years, a sadly mark the definite rupture with Protestantism.By Tim Byron

Today in 1525, the Zurich City Council arranged a public debate between Ulrich Zwingli and the Anabaptists who were opposed to infant Baptism. In reality there was more at stake than baptism,By Tim Byron

By Tim Byron

Today the Anglican Priest John Newton introduced a new hymn called I Chronicles 17.16-172 this has since became known as Amazing Grace, We look at how it has become one of the most popular hymns of all timeBy Tim Byron

We look at how Abraham Lincoln saved the constitution and kept the country together - but wasn't able to change the constitution to acknowledge the deityBy Tim Byron

The ground breaking film Ben Hur was based on the novel that was voted the most influential Christian Book of the 19th Century. It tells the fictional story of a Jewish prisoner, who encounters Christ and eventually is freed from slavery by winning a chariot raceBy Tim Byron

Thomas Beckets murder in Canterbury Cathedral made him one of the most popular saints of the medieval period and Canterbury became a pilgrimage destination for many from around EuropeBy Tim Byron