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The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ announced today a major new six-part religious series for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four – A History Of Christianity.

Presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch – one of the world's leading historians and Professor of History of the Church and Fellow at St Cross College Oxford – A History Of Christianity will reveal the true origins of Christianity and delve into what it means to be a Christian.

Intelligent, thought-provoking and magisterial in its scope the series will reveal how a small Jewish sect that preached humility became the biggest religion in the world.

Most Christian histories start with St Paul's mission to Rome, but Diarmaid MacCulloch argues that the first Christianity stayed much closer to its Middle-Eastern roots.

The series has been commissioned by Janice Hadlow (whilst Controller of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four) and is being made by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's in-house Religion & Ethics team.

Richard Klein, Controller, ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four, says: "A History Of Christianity is engaging, stimulating and, above all, informative, offering the ultimate guide to the origins of the biggest religion in the world.

"It also demonstrates the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's commitment to offering landmark religious programming."

Executive Producer Jean Claude Bragard adds: "It's a privilege working with Diarmaid MacCulloch – he is the leading international authority in the history of the Church."

The films are produced and directed by Gillian Bancroft and Sian Salt.

A History Of Christianity (6 x 60-mintues) will be shown in autumn 2009 on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Four and then repeated on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Two.

The series is a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ co-production with the Open University and Jerusalem Productions.

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