As far as what was believed, I think the "Church" meaning what it began as, and what spun off from it (i.e. Catholocism, into Protestantism...basically all of "Christianity") all hold close to the same ideas of a punishment in the "aftertlife". This is scripturally incorrect, but for some odd reason the majority of people who speak of an ever-loving God wish for some of us to burn in torment for all of eternity.
Let's say you're a dad and your son asks you for bread. Would you give him a stone? If he asks for a fish, would you hand him a rattlesnake?
Why then does this "Church" hand you a stone or rattlesnake when it says it stands for an all loving Father? Why would they want you to stumble, or drink poison? They are from the evil one, but don't even know it themselves because he comes in disguise....a wolf among sheep. And they are like their father...wolves amidst the sheep. Atheists are no danger to you, nor Satanists, or any other "ists". Your biggest dangers are those that call you "brother" and then betray you with a kiss. Beware of the serpent that lies low in wait and tries to strike at your heel. Be wary and crush it within.
Although Fundamentalism itself is a fairly recent development, yes I'm sure that people though of some sort of place of eternal carnal torment (hell..ha) as being what's really really there even as they do now.
I'm going to venture (without actual article backup mind you...I'm not a historian. I'm an artist that's had a strong, strong interest in theology, the occult, and spiritual matters for a long time now) that yes, most likely back then the idea of a literal hell or place of neverending torment was taught. How better to keep the "sheep" in line than to make them believe they will suffer for an inconeivable amount of time for not following you?
What if I am the adversary?