What was the early Church like?

After Pentecost the first believers in Jerusalem devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Acts says they were of one heart and one soul, and shared what they had so that no one was in need.

Within a few decades there were Christian communities across the Roman Empire, from Syria to Rome. They met on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection, to read the Scriptures and celebrate the Eucharist, and they were known for caring for widows, orphans and the sick.

For almost three centuries Christianity was often illegal, and many were martyred. In 313 the emperors Constantine and Licinius granted Christians freedom of worship, and the Church could build churches and meet openly.

The Church grew mostly through ordinary people: merchants, soldiers, slaves and households. Women had a visible place — Lydia, Priscilla and Phoebe appear in the New Testament as hosts, teachers and helpers of the Church.

Outside the New Testament, writings like the Didache (around the year 100), the letters of Ignatius of Antioch and the description of Sunday worship by Justin Martyr show a Church already praying, baptising and celebrating the Eucharist in recognisable ways.

Martyrs were honoured from the beginning: Christians gathered at their tombs on the anniversary of their death, which they called their birthday into heaven. The blood of martyrs, Tertullian wrote, is seed.