When it first appeared in 1956, LS was introduced as the "Magazine of the Centre for the Study of Ecclesiastical History (CEHE)." The promoters of LS and the CEHE aimed to address what they perceived as a significant gap in Portuguese historiography: the study of ecclesiastical issues. This need was underscored by a challenge posed by the "Comité International des Sciences Historiques" (CISH) and its Commission of Comparative Ecclesiastical History, which sought Portuguese representation on this subject at the International Congresses of Historical Sciences. This challenge from the CISH led to a meeting on 5 January 1956, resulting in the formation of a commission chaired by Bishop Miguel de Oliveira, which included António da Silva Rego, António Brásio, and Avelino de Jesus da Costa. The commission was tasked with organising a study centre, later joined by Bernardo Xavier Coutinho and Mário Martins. Together, they formed the Editorial Board of LS . The publication of LS —a title proposed by Miguel de Oliveira—was agreed upon at this meeting, and Volume I was published in 1956. In practice, however, the magazine preceded the formal establishment of the CEHE by nearly 15 years. The Centre's statutes received canonical approval on 29 December 1972 and civil approval on 15 February 1973.

During this period, LS remained the sole tangible outcome of the CEHE. From the outset, its promoters envisioned the CEHE’s activities as limited unless it became affiliated with an institute of Catholic culture. This hope was particularly significant within Portuguese Catholic circles following the closure of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Coimbra. As described by its promoters, the Centre was a "grouping of scholars of good will" ( LS , 1st Series, I [1956], p. 297). The magazine served not only to provide visibility for the initiative but also to maintain interest in ecclesiastical history studies, fostering a desire to increase the number of researchers in this field.

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