An early community of faith (Christian)

faith community. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ˈfaith comˌmunity noun [countable] a group of people who share a particular set of religious beliefs In any faith community there are varying levels of commitment. Christianity began in the 1st century AD after Jesus died as a Jewish sect in Judea but quickly spread throughout the Roman empire. Despite early persecution of Christians, it later became the state religion.