Religion

The Church of St Martin of Tours in Canterbury

Q&A What is the oldest church in England?

An open Bible on an altar

General ancient history

A history of the Bible: who wrote it and when?

Our composite image shows Henry II framed by an Arabic arch. Henry claimed he

King Henry II: the Muslim monarch of medieval England?

The congregation in Westminster Cathedral, London, during National Prayer Day, 7 September 1941. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Praying for Britain: the history of national days of prayer

A 19th-century depiction of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

Who was Maharaja Ranjit Singh?

Once he gained control of the entire Roman Empire, Constantine set about an ambitious programme of reform. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

Constantine the Great: the emperor who created Europe

Black rights activist Malcolm X

Malcolm X: Activism, assassination and how he predicted his own death

The Battle of Lepanto between Holy League soldiers and Ottoman troops

The battle of Lepanto: when Ottoman forces clashed with Christians

Portrait of Martin Luther by Lucas Cranach, 1543. (Photo by Culture Club/Getty Images)

Europe’s holy war: how the Reformation convulsed a continent

Pope Francis celebrates a priesthood ordination and mass in St Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP via Getty Images)

General History

Sex and the (Vatican) City: a brief history of clerical celibacy

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Historian Stephen Tomkins (Photo by Fran Monks)

Puritans and the Mayflower . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Illustation of a pope

Holy smoke, antipopes and power struggles: a guide to popes and the papacy

Pope John XVII

Has there ever been a married Pope?

Three monarchs who stepped down through history: Kaiser Wilhem II; Anne of Cleves; and James VII and II. (Images by Getty)

Retiring royals: 9 rulers and royals who stepped down through history

Ayatollah Khomeini

General ancient history

A brief history of Iran