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The Ö÷²¥´óÐã announced today a major new six-part religious series for Ö÷²¥´óÐã 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 Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four) and is being made by the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's in-house Religion & Ethics team.

Richard Klein, Controller, Ö÷²¥´óÐã 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 Ö÷²¥´óÐã'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 Ö÷²¥´óÐã Four and then repeated on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Two.

The series is a Ö÷²¥´óÐã co-production with the Open University and Jerusalem Productions.

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