THE SEVENTH CENTURY

THE CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE AGES - 7th CENTURY

Various terms are employed to describe the period between the Church's inception, and the Post-Reformation Period. "Medieval", "Middle Ages", "Dark Ages" are used simultaneously. How we choose to classify this period of history depends on what view we take about the leadership of the Church at this point.

For those who regard that the Church's leadership was basically corrupt and doctrinally compromised, this period will be referred to as The Dark Ages, and will be punctuated by the Reformation. Yet for those who regard these Middle Ages as the Golden Era, this was a period where the Church shone brightest, and world has never been more blessed because of the Church.

The Middle Ages was punctuated with some notable characters. Gregory the Great (540-640) is considered the first medieval pope. He saved Rome from the Barbarians, sent missionaries to England, and established a system of Christian doctrine. Winfrith of Crediton (672-754), who changed his name to Boniface (to adapt to those he was ministering to), became known as the "Apostle to the Germans". In 645, Muslims conquered the Middle East. With that loss of territory to the Church, Boniface's conquest of Germany was most welcome to the Papacy.