Have you ever wanted accessible introductions to the key figures and periods of Christian history? The Expansion of Christianity Christianity developed from its beginnings as a persecuted sect in an outpost of the Roman empire to become the largest religion on earth. For Timothy Yates human zeal and courage are key to the story, and his narrative concentrates on the missionary pioneers - people such as Paul, Columba, Willibrord, Francis Xavier, John Eliot, William Carey and Mary Slessor. Yates examines continents individually, showing how Christian mission has moved forward despite many periods of retreat. By the twentieth century churches had been planted in every major ethnic group in the world, with estimates putting the number of Christians across the globe today at two thousand million - 33% of the population. Yates's account provides a rich and enlightening introduction to the development of this major worldwide faith. Christianity and the Celts In recent years the term 'Celt' has become synonymous with mystery and the 'other-worldly'. In his engaging and lucid account, Ted Olsen digs beneath the layers of romanticization to introduce readers to the world of the Celts and its key figures. Focusing on their interaction with the Christian faith, Olsen focuses on the principal characters from Ireland and beyond, such as St Patrick and St Columbanus, highlighting their missionary fervour and monastic ideals. In bringing a distant period of history vividly to life, Ted Olsen offers an engaging portrait of men and women whose ability to intrigue and fascinate is as strong as it ever was.