---
title: 'William T. Catto on the Value of Church History'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2024-07-31
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2024-william-t-catto-on-the-value-of-church-history
---

# William T. Catto on the Value of Church History

“If the church on earth is one, Christ being its head, there is, therefore, a common interest binding them together as a common brotherhood. As one of our poets beautifully expresses it

> “*Our heavenly Father calls*,
> *Christ and His members one*;
> *We the young children of his love*,
> *And He the first born son*.
> *We are but several parts*
> *Of the same broken bread*;
> *One body hath its several limbs*,
> *But Jesus is the head*.”

That the history of every church should be known seems equally clear from the relation they sustain to each other. That was a significant remark made by Paul to his brethren when he said: ‘Ye are members one of another;’ how forcible and expressive is this remark — members one of another. There must be somewhat of a family tie existing between the churches. If it be so, and we cannot show why it should not, then is it clear that, as in every well-ordered family, a knowledge of each of its members is desirable and necessary, so is there reason for a knowledge of each church by every member of Christ’s mystical body, the church; and however humble and weak it may be, whatever peculiar circumstance surrounds it, so much the greater reason for a knowledge of it.” — [**William T. Catto**](/authors/william-thomas-catto), *A Semi*-*Centenary Discourse* - *A History of the the First African Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, and a Brief Notice of Rev. John Gloucester* (1857), pp. 15-16