Timelines/Devotional Writers

Timeline of Christian Devotional Writers

This timeline of devotional writers--specifically, those contained in Renovare's Spiritual Classics and Devotional Classics anthologies, includes short biographies of each of these writers.

This information was originally compiled by Tyler V. Snow, and used with his permission.

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I. PATRISTIC PERIOD (100-590 A.D.)

Date (of Birth)	Christian Writer
297 AD	Athanasius Took part in First Council of Nicea Later became bishop of Alexandria Helped maintain Christian beliefs during a turbulent century Wrote On the Incarnation Died 373 see Church/Writings/Athanasius
331	Gregory of Nyssa One of the great fathers of the Church Main use of the Bible was not for historical reflection but rather for growth in virtue Died 396
345	John Chrysostom Son of a wealthy Roman general One of the finest preachers in the early Church Known as “the golden-mouthed” Baptized into the church in 368 Lived in mountain cave near Antioch for four years 386 ordained a priest 398 named patriarch of Constantinople Wrote sermon Dead to Sin Died 407
354	Augustine of Hippo Most important convert to Christianity after St. Paul A great doctor of the Latin church One of the most significant thinkers in the history of the Christian church Born in Numidia, North Africa Had a long-standing liaison with a woman who bore him a son Educated in philosophy and rhetoric at Carthage Went to Rome as a teacher of rhetoric Appointed professor at Milan, where he was converted Took on a monastic way of life 391 became a priest but continued living as a monk, for 34 years lived there Finally he became bishop of Hippo Made about 40-50 journeys as a bishop Wrote almost 100 treatises, 200 letters, and 500 sermons that survive Wrote Confessions and The City of God Died 430 AD

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II. MIDDLE AGES (590-1500 A.D.)

Date (of Birth)	Christian Writer
1090	Bernard of Clarvaux One of the great leaders in the history of the Church Considered by many to be one of the holiest individuals who ever lived At the age of 22 entered as a novice in the monastery of Citeaux Supervised group of fellow monks in newly founded monastery at Clairvaux; remained there until his death Works had profound influence on Martin Luther and John Calvin Wrote On the Love of God Died 1153
1098	Hildegard of Bingen Put in care of Jutta von Spanheim, an anchoress (religious recluse) attached to Benedictine monastery of Disibodenberg Elected abbess of the anchorhold, now a small convent Died 1179
1100s	Richard of St. Victor Native of Scotland Entered monastic community of St. Victor in Paris in the 1150s Wrote The Mystical Ark Died 1173
1182	Francis of Assisi First of the Italian mystics Heard God’s call to rebuild the church at San Damiano Started Franciscan Order Most beloved of the saints of the Middle Ages Wrote The Little Flowers of St. Francis Died 1226
1194	Clare of Assisi Founded Poor Clares Converted under the influence of Francis of Assisi Sickbed from 1224 until her death Died 1253
1200s	Hadewijch of Antwerp A Beguine, a devout woman who chose to lead a life of poverty and contemplation without taking vows as a nun; came from privileged families but rejected the life of the castle and the life of the cloister in favor of nonvowed religious life A mystic
1250	Marguerite Porete Member of a creative and original group of prayerful European laywomen in the 13th and 14th centuries who are known as Beguines Wrote A Mirror of Simple Souls Died 1310 (burned at the stake)
1260	Meister Eckhart Entered Dominican order near Erfurt, Germany in 1277 1294 became prior of Dominicans at Erfurt Died 1328
1290	Richard Rolle One of the great spiritual leaders of England Wrote The Fire of Love Died 1349 Revered as St. Richard the Hermit
1293	John Ruusbroec Flemish contemplative Lived in a hermitage in the Forest of Soignes, in Groenendaal Wrote The Spiritual Espousals, Kingdom of Lovers, Little Book of Clarification, Book of the Twelve Beguines Died 1381
1300s	The Cloud of Unkowning (anonymous) Greatest spiritual classic to issue from the 14th century English contemplative movement The author is unknown
1343	Julian of Norwich Most popular of the English mystics Lived as a Benedictine nun in Norwich, beside the St. Julian Church Wrote Revelations of Divine Love (first great female writer in the English language) Seriously ill at the age of 30 Died 1413 see Church/Writings/Julian of Norwich
1347	Catherine of Siena Born in Siena, Italy Reared in poor but devout Catholic family 18 became Dominican nun Wrote The Dialogue Died 1380
1379	Thomas a Kempis Became monk at Augustinian monastery where he would spend the rest of his life Member of the Brethren of the Common Life, a religious community in Holland devoted to education and the care of the poor Made subprior in 1429 Wrote The Imitation of Christ (1441) ranks second only to the Bible in its impact on the worldwide Christian community Died 1471
1447	Catherine of Genoa Dad was Viceroy of Naples Member of the Third Order of St. Francis Wrote Life and Teachings, Dialogues Died 1510

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III. REFORMATION PERIOD (1500-1650 A.D.)

Date (of Birth)	Christian Writer
1466	Desiderius Erasmus Sometimes referred to as Erasmus "The Humanist" a Dutch philosopher and Catholic theologian who is considered one of the greatest scholars of the northern Renaissance. 1516 - Erasmus published a modern Greek NT with Latin appendix (showed translation errors in the Latin Vulgate) Raised questions that would be influential in the Protestant Reformation and Catholic Counter-Reformation. Some historians have suggested "Erasmus laid the egg and Luther hatched it" (in reference to the Protestant Reformation) Died 1536
1478	Thomas More English humanist Wrote Utopia Active in the government of Henry VIII Did not support King becoming Head of the Church Died 1535
1483	Martin Luther Preeminent among the Protestant Reformers Born in Eisleben, Germany Age 20, suffered deep anxiety about his own salvation Entered an Augustinian monastery to soothe his religious conscience 1505 became an Augustinian monk for 20 years Ordained 1507 1517 composed 95 theses, nailed to the door of the church in Wittenberg 1522 Luther's German translation of the New Testament appeared 1534 Finished translating the whole Bible into German with the first edition being published in Wittenberg Deeply influenced by Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux Wrote On the Bondage of the Human Will Died 1546
1491	Ignatius of Loyola One of the most influential religious founders in Christian history Born at Casa de Torres in Guipuzcoa, Spain 1538 established the Society of Jesus/Jesuits (a group of spiritual companions who took vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and loyalty to Pope Paul III) Influential to the Catholic Counter-Reformation Wrote The Spiritual Exercises Died 1556
1509	John Calvin Born at Noyon, France Curate of St. Martin de Marteville 1527 1534 converted to Protestantism 1536 wrote Institutes of the Christian Religion Considered father of Presbyterian and Reformed Protestant Churches Deeply influenced by Luther and Augustine Known for stern temperament and austere lifestyle Died 1564
1515	Teresa of Avila Born in Avila, Spain Age 20 entered Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation Had occasional supernatural experiences 1555 had second conversion Wrote Interior Castle Died 1582
1542	John of the Cross Carmelite monk in 1564 Spent life in service of Catholic Reform Wrote The Dark Night of the Soul Died 1591
1567	Francis de Sales Attended a Jesuit school Ordained a priest in 1591 1602 became bishop of Geneva Wrote Introduction to the Devout Life Died 1622

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IV. POST-REFORMATION / ENLIGHTENMENT (1650-1800 A.D.)

Date (of Birth)	Christian Writer
1609	John Milton One of the great writers of the English language By 43 he was totally blind Wrote two great epics, Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained Died 1674
1611	Brother Lawrence Born in Lorraine, France Lay brother in Discalced Carmelite order in Paris Wrote The Practice of the Presence of God Died 1691
1613	Jeremy Taylor Born and educated in Cambridge, England Ordained 1633 Moved to Ireland 1658 Consecrated bishop of Down and Connor Wrote Holy Living and Holy Dying Died 1667
1617	Isaac Penington Son of the Mayor of London 1658 joined Society of Friends (Quakers) Wrote Letters on Spiritual Virtues Died 1680
1623	Blaise Pascal Best remembered for his genius in mathematics His work as a philosopher and theologian remains perhaps the most insightful of all his works Born in France Heard sermon that brought about a profound religious experience, 1654 Wrote Pensees Death at 39 Died 1662
1624	George Fox Born in Puritan England Became founder and most prominent leader of the Quakers (Society of Friends) Wrote The Journal of George Fox Died 1691
1628	John Bunyan Born in parish of Elston, two miles from Bedford, England Wrote Grace Abounding to teh Chief of Sinners Pastor of Baptist Church in Bedford Wrote Pilgrim’s Progress 1678; a monumental classic, thought to be second only to the Bible in the number of copies sold since its first printing Died 1688
1648	Madame Guyon Born at Montargis, France Lived in a convent under royal order for a year Almost 25 years of her life were spent in confinement Wrote Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ Inspired Francois Fenelon, John Wesley, and Hudson Taylor Died 1717
1651	Francois Fenelon Archbishop of Cambrai 1695 Influenced by Madame Guyon Wrote Maxims of the Saints Denounced by Pope Innocent XII Banished by Louis XIV Died 1715
1675	Jean-Pierre de Caussade Born in Toulouse, France Ordained member of Society of Jesus in 1708 Wrote Spiritual Instructions on the Various States of Prayer Died 1751
1686	William Law A devout Anglican priest A spiritual director Inspired by John Tauler, John Ruusbroec, and Thomas a Kempis Wrote A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life which appeared in 1728, and The Spirit of Love (1752-54) Greatly influenced the English Evangelical Revival Later in life, involved w/writings of Protestant mystic Jacob Boehme Important factor in the English Evangelical Revival Died 1761
1703	Jonathan Edwards One of America’s greatest theologians Born in Connecticut and educated at Yale Ministered for 23 years at church in Northampton, MA Missionary to Indians at Stockbridge 1758 named president of Princeton University, died a few weeks later Died 1758
1703	John Wesley Ordained an Anglican minister Helped found Methodist movement By evangelizing the common people of 18th century England, Wesley saved the country from a bloody revolution Wrote Christian Perfection Died 1791
1707	Charles Wesley Helped found the Methodist Church 1735 took Anglican holy orders Wrote Love Divine, All Loves Excelling; Hark the Herald Angels Sing; Christ the Lord is Ris’n Today; Jesus, Lover of My Soul; O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing Died 1788
1720	John Woolman Born in NJ to a Quaker farm family Wrote Journal Died 1772
1745	Hannah More Poet, playwright, spiritual writer Left her London circle to live at Cowslip Green Wrote Religion of the Heart Died 1833

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V. MODERN PERIOD - 19th Century (1800s)

Date (of Birth)	Christian Writer
1801	John Henry Newman Anglican clergyman and later a Roman Catholic priest Established a house of prayer Wrote Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, A Grammar of Assent, Parochial and Plain Sermons Wrote poem Lead Kindly Light Died 1890
1807	Phoebe Palmer Born to a devout Methodist family Wrote The Way of Holiness Died 1874
1813	Soren Kierkegaard Born in Copenhagen 1843 wrote Eitehr/Or Died 1855
1814	Frederick William Faber Huguenot descent Persuaded by John Henry Newman’s writings Joined the Tractarian Movement Received Anglican ordination in 1839 Entered Roman Catholic Church Founded Wilfridians, or Brothers of the Will of God 1847 ordained priest Wrote Lives of the Saints; All for Jesus, Growth in Holiness, Creator and the Creature Died 1863
1824	George MacDonald Native of Aberdeen, Scotland Became a Congregational minister, then a freelance preacher and lecturer 1855 wrote Within and Without, and afterward made literature his profession, writing novels, fairy tales, poetry, and Christian allegories of the quest for God Wrote Phantastes (1858) and Lilith (1895) which were influential to many other writers, including C.S. Lewis Wrote Princess and the Goblin and Princess and Curdie Wrote Unspoken Sermons Had a deep trust in God and a sunny, playful disposition Died 1905
1828	Leo Tolstoy Wrote War and Peace and Anna Karenina Wrote The Lion and the Honeycomb Died 1910
1828	Andrew Murray Dutch Reformed missionary leader Pastored several South African churches Vigorously promoted the call to missions Wrote 240 works on the devotional life (Abide in Christ, With Christ in the School of Prayer, and Waiting on God) Died 1917
1830	Christina Rossetti An English poet A devout High Anglican Semi-invalid for much of her life Died 1894
1832	Hannah Whitall Smith Quaker born in Philadelphia Wrote The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life 1870 Died 1911
1834	Charles Spurgeon Born and reared in Essex, England Became Baptist in 1850 Appointed pastor 1852 Wrote Spiritual Revival the Want of the Church Died 1892
1844	Gerard Manley Hopkins One of the great innovators in English poetry Converted to Catholicism, entered the Society of Jesus Died 1889

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VI. MODERN PERIOD - 20th Century (1900s)

Date (of Birth)	Christian Writer	Source
1853	Lilias Trotter Volunteered with YWCA 1888 organized mission to the poor of Algeria Had 40 year love affair with Algeria Died 1928
1867	Amy Carmichael Born in Northern Ireland Spent most of her life as a missionary, including in India Anthology is Spiritual Witness Died 1951
1874	Oswald Chambers Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher aligned with the Holiness Movement Wrote My Utmost for His Highest 1911 founded the Bible Training College 1915 assigned as YMCA chaplain to Cairo, Egypt Died 1917
1874	G.K. Chesterton Agnostic by 16 One of history’s most prolific and thoughtful writers Christian apologist His beliefs were utterly traditional; his methods of argument fresh and original 1922 became a Catholic Wrote Orthodoxy Died 1936
1875	Evelyn Underhill Religious conversion at the age of 32 Devout Anglican Wrote Mysticism, Worship Relied on John Ruusbroec Died 1941
1881	William Temple Born in Exeter, England Chaplain to archbishop of Canterbury Bishop of Manchester Archbishop of York Archbishop of Canterbury 1942-44 An outstanding leader of modern Protestantism Pioneer of the ecumenical movement A tireless church reformer Wrote Christianity and Social Order Died 1944
1881	Pierre Teilhard de Chardin A child of a devout Catholic family Entered Jesuits in 1899 Ordained in 1911 Wrote The Divine Milieu; Hymn of the Universe Died 1955
1884	Frank Laubach Missionary to the Philippine Islands Wrote Letters by a Modern Mystic Died 1970
1884	E. Stanley Jones Missionary and religion swriter Worked among high caste Hindus and Muslism in India Envangelistic missions in the US Started Ashram retreats Wrote Conversation Died 1973
1886	John Baillie Professor of Systematic Theology Wrote A Diary of Private Prayer Died 1960
1889	Sadhu Sundar Singh The St. Paul of India Raised a Sikh Saw vision of Jesus Wrote With and Without Christ Died ~1933
1892	George A. Buttrick Entered Presbyterian ministry Pastor of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in NYC Wrote Prayer Died 1980
1893	Thomas R. Kelly Born into devout Quaker farm family near Chillicothe, Ohio Wrote A Testament of Devotion, The Eternal Promise Died 1941
1893	Dorothy L. Sayers Wrote Mind of the Maker, The Man Born to Be King Died 1957
1897	A.W. Tozer Born in western Pennsylvania Became an active Methodist lay preacher Joined the Christian and Missionary Alliance Pastored churches in WV, Ohio, and Indiana Accepted call to the Southside Alliance Church in Chicago where he stayed 31 years Preached on Moody Bible Institute radio station, WMBI Wrote The Pursuit of God Last pastorate at Avenue Road Alliance Church in Toronto, Ontario Died 1963
1897	Agnes Sanford Born in China as the daughter of a Presbyterian missionary Lived for years in New Jersey as the wife of an Episcopalian rector Wrote The Healing Light Died 1982
1897	Dorothy Day Cofounder of the Catholic Worker Movement Wrote The Long Loneliness Died 1980
1898	Paul Tournier Lived and worked in Geneva, Switzerland Religious doctor and counselor Wrote The Adventure of Living Wrote The Meaning of Persons Died 1986
1898	C.S. Lewis One of the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century Born in Ireland Converted to Christianity in 1931 Wrote Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity Died 1963
1903	Watchman Nee One of the great Christian leaders of the 20th century Headed dynamic movement of the Spirit known as the Little Flock, one of the early efforts to forge an indigenous Chinese Christian witness independent of foreign missions and traditional denominations Flourished in 1930s and 1940s with large gatherings of thousands in Shanghai 20 years in prison under CCP Wrote What Shall This Man Do? Died 1972
1903	Alan Paton Educated at University of Natal (South Africa) President of South African Liberal Party Wrote Instrument of Thy Peace; Cry the Beloved Country Died 1988
1904	Karl Rahner One of chief architects of the Second Vatican Council Entered Society of Jesus 1922, ordained 1932 Wrote Theological Investigations, Encounters With Silence Died 1984
1905	Dag Hammarskjold Secretary-General of UN Born in Sweden Wrote Markings Died 1961
1906	Dietrich Bonhoeffer Born in Breslau, Germany Grew up in Berlin 16 began study of theology 1933 denounced German public for its blind obedience to Hitler Left for England where he served as pastor of two churches Called to go back to Germany to serve as head of seminary to train young pastors Wrote Cost of Discipleship; Life Together Arrested April 1943; implicated in plot to assassinate Hitler Died 1945
1906	J.B. Phillips Anglican clergyman Wrote contemporary translation of the New Testament Wrote Your God is Too Small; Plain Christianity; A Man Called Jesus Died 1982
1907	Anne Morrow Lindbergh Wrote A Gift from the Sea
1909	Simone Weil French social activist and political radical Remarkable 20th century mystic Born a Jew Visited Trappist Abbey in 1938 Hesitated to become a formal Christian Wrote Waiting for God Died 1943
1914	Catherine Marshall Wrote memoir about her husband, A Man Called Peter Wrote novel Christy
1915	Thomas Merton In his 20s became a Roman Catholic (1938) and later a Cistercian (Trappist) Monk (1941) Wrote The Seven Storey Mountain (1948), Contemplative Prayer Monk (and later a priest) in the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky Died 1968 during journey to Asia
1921	Elizabeth O’Connor Early member of the Church of the Saviour in Washington DC Wrote Letters to Scattered Pilgrims
1926	John Main Influenced by John Cassian Founded Benedictine Priory of Montreal Wrote Moments of Christ Died 1982
1926	Frederick Buechner An ordained Presbyterian minister Wrote Sacred Journey, Telling Secrets, A Room Called Remember
1929	Martin Luther King Jr. Father and grandfather were Baptist preachers Formed by Paul Tillich and Reinhold Neibuhr African American Baptist minister Led civil rights movement in the U.S. Rose to national prominence through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference I Have a Dream speech; essay Walk with Freedom Died 1968
1929	Andre Louf Cistercian (Trappist) religious community Wrote Teach Us to Pray
1931	Desmond Tutu South African Anglican cleric and theologian Bishop of Johannesburg, Archbishop of Cape Town Wrote The Book of Joy
1932	Henri J.M. Nouwen Born in Nijkerk Holland Came to the US in 1964 Roman Catholic priest and psychologist Wrote Wounded Healer, Genesee Diary, With Open Hands, Gracias, Road to Daybreak Died 1996

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VII. MODERN / CONTEMPORARY - 21st Century (2000-present)

Date (of Birth)	Christian Writer
1932	Eugene Peterson American Presbyterian minister, scholar, theologian, author, poet Born in Washington, grew up in Montana Founded Christ Our King Presbyterian Church where he served for 29 years Wrote over 30 books, including The Message Died 2018
1934	Brennan Manning American author, laicized priest, and public speaker Wrote The Ragamuffin Gospel Died 2013
1935	Dallas Willard Professor with over 30 publications Wrote The Spirit of the Disciplines Died 2013
1940	Gerald May American psychiatrist and theologian Born in Michigan Wrote Addiction and Grace Died 2005
1940	Adolfo Quezada Founded Equanimity Center Wrote Wholeness, Walking with God, Through the Darkness, and Loving Yourself for God’s Sake
1942	Richard Foster Born in New Mexico Quaker background Wrote Celebration of Discipline, Prayer, Life With God Bible (assisted) 1988 founded Renovare
1945	Annie Dillard One of our finest contemporary writers Wrote Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Holy the Firm, and Teaching a Stone to Talk
1947	Kathleen Norris Wrote Falling Off, Dakota, The Cloister Walk, Amazing Grace, Quotidian Mysteries
1948	N.T. Wright New Testament scholar, Pauline theologian, Anglican bishop Author of over 70 books

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Additional Resources

• See also Church/History
  • Church/History/Eras
  • Church/History/People
• Church/Writings