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Oldest Baptist Denominations.

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Ben W, Dec 5, 2002.

  1. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    Which Denominations of the Baptist Church are the oldest? The Seventh Day Baptist church became formally organised around the 1750's mark.

    There certainley are older baptists, going back probably around 100 years. Are any of them still going under the same name today?
     
  2. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    Older Baptists? My senior Pastor. He's got to be about 400 years old now!!!

    Get this: His father (a retired pastor) just recently passed away. There was a joke about how old he was. They used to say that he was so old, when he spoke of having a personal relationship with Jesus, he was being literal.
     
  3. Refreshed

    Refreshed Member
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    Not all Baptists are denominational, some are independent. Churches by the Baptist name seem to have been around since the early 1600's.

    Are you asking about associations or churches?

    JohnV: I told that one to my wife, and she thought it was hilarious. [​IMG]
     
  4. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    Outside of some regional associations, I would say the SBC as an immediate follow on to the Triennial Convention. The TC was founded in 180?.
     
  5. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    The Triennial Convention began in 1814, the SBC in 1845. The Northern Baptist Convention (now ABC-USA) dates from 1907.

    The Philadelphia Baptist Association dates from 1707 and is the oldest in the country. The Charleston Baptist Association was formed in 1751.
     
  6. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    In Australia groups are more referred to by denomination, so on that basis I would be looking at Baptist Associations.
     
  7. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    Which Philidelphia and Charleston would qualify as.
    I listed the SBC as it orgnizationally is the immediate succesor to the TC. The Northern Baptists took awhile to organize themselves back into a convention. Not that they did not have active fraternal ties. Their para-church orgs just were more focused; e.g The Northern Baptist Foreign and Home Missionary Society.
     
  8. tyndale1946

    tyndale1946 Well-Known Member
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    "This church was constituted in Pembrokeshire, in South Wales, in the year 1701, at which time the first members of this church were about to come over into Pennsylvania; they then, by the advice and counsel of the churches they came from, in Pembrokeshire and Carmathenshire, entered into a church covenant, and state their number was sixteen persons; and among them was the Rev. Mr. Thomas Griffith, to be their minister. After their arrival in this country, they lived, near two years, near Pennepek and the parts adjacent; keeping together and meeting, as they were a distinct church, and had considerable addition to their number. In the year 1703, they removed and settled at the Welsh Tract aforesaid, and continued successful: and the said Mr. Griffith continued with them until he died, which was on the 25th of August, Anno Domini 1725: during which time, several able gifted ministers were raised, by the blessing of God, in the said church; they were Elisha Thomas and Enoch Morgan, both members when the said church was first constituted; the said Elisha Thomas was chosen pastor of the church, and after were Jenkin Jones, who removed to Philadelphia, and Owen Thomas. In the year 1730, Elisha Thomas died, and the said church continued under the ministry of the said Mr. Enoch Morgan and Mr. Owen Thomas; during which time, God raised up other two in the said church; viz., Mr. Abel Morgan, who since removed to Middletown, in East Jersey, and Mr. David Davis. On the 25th of March, 1740, died the said Enoch Morgan, and the church continues under the ministry of the said Owen Thomas and David Davis."

    This is the founding of the oldest Baptist Church in America... The Welsh Tract Old School Baptist Church... If Brother Jeff comes by he can tell us all about it... And I know he has a lot to tell as Old School and Primitive Baptist are one and the same... Brother Glen Of The Primitive Baptist Brethren [​IMG]
     
  9. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Most Baptist churches are part of a local fellowship or regional organization - where each person and church is known.

    The concept of a "national" convention is pretty foreign to most Baptists. Hence the "New Hampshire" confession, "Philadelphia" confession, even the "London" confession.

    And seeing the problems that come from 'national' baptist organizations that tend to take control over or dictate to the local congregation, I like the small, local association idea.
     
  10. Mrs KJV

    Mrs KJV <img src =/MrsKJV.gif>

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    The Seventh Day Baptists are were sabbath day keepers, the group known as the German Baptist Brethren broke from them, and it is known now days as The Church of the Brethren. I know this cause our church building is old and this is the church's history. Just thought someone might be interested in this
     
  11. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Thanks for that. I was introduced to the Church of the Brethren as a teen-ager when we stayed in a church basement during a music festival. They're loosely associated with the ABC-USA and, interestingly, there is a "conservative" movement afoot within the denomination.

    How did you end up in one of their churches?

    (They're "baptistic," but more closely tied to the Anabaptistic and Pietistic traditions than American Baptists are, IMHO.)
     
  12. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    Gidday,

    There were three types of Bretheren churches in Australia, Firstly the Plymouth Brethren who made history as the only church group to ever in history be kicked out of Australia. They were doing Electric Shock therepy to their members and money was changing hands in a dishonest way.

    My Grandma knew some people in the "Closed Bretheren" of which you had to be born into.

    We also have the bretheren church in Australia that I think may be the one Mrs KJV has an association with. They are growing in our nation and are leading many to accept Jesus as their saviour. I hope they will reap a huge harvest. But thinking about it, I can see a number of parallels between Baptist and Bretheren tradition.
     
  13. Mrs KJV

    Mrs KJV <img src =/MrsKJV.gif>

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    We are not associated with that movement we are Independent Baptist and we started our church 2 years ago there, but I have relatives and friends in our area and we bought the old church when they built a new one with lots of information left on them. Some of my relatives are still in this movement but in the last few years they have went liberal. They took a strong stand on the King James Version and now they are using the new translations. This is the group that I learned that the KJV was the Word of God. One thing that disappointed me with this movement was they did not ask you to receive Christ as Saviour. You were baptized with no questions asked. My grandparents which are still in this movement did not get saved till about 4 years ago, and was members of this church all their lives. They beleive works salvation and if you are not baptized you will not go to heaven. My grandparents know the truth but won't leave. Sad but true. [​IMG]
     
  14. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
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    Gidday Mrs KJV, The Bretheren in Australia are definatley a powerfull evengelical fellowship, so I am thinking maybe the two are not aligned?

    As for the KJV only stuff, I reckon we've done that to death!!!
     
  15. Charlie T

    Charlie T New Member

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    Anyone know the status of the Philadelphia Association?

    Have they been continually active? Are they associated with a national denomination or other associations?

    Charlie
     
  16. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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  17. RDH

    RDH New Member

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    Don't you guys and gals know? Didn't the ABA start on the sea shore of Galilee when Jesus called out the first Baptist church?? [​IMG]
     
  18. PastorFrye

    PastorFrye New Member

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    The church I now pastor, North Nassau Community Baptist Church, was founded in 1808 as an independent Baptist Church, and has remained so to this day. We have been in the same building since 1837, though we have added on and installed such "modern" convieniences as indoor plumbing, electric lights, and a furnace. But, seriously, I sometimes stand in awe as I view the names of the men of God who have held the pulpit before me, and of the many, many people who have come to know the Lord Jesus in this church. The congregations have never felt a need to join any of the Baptist conventions or associations ( not that it would be a bad thing to do, as I have pastored SBC and BBFI churches in the past ). Just to say "I am a Baptist" is enough for them.
    I can find no fault in that.

    May Jesus Christ be Praised !
     
  19. rlvaughn

    rlvaughn Well-Known Member
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    Hello, PastorFrye. Welcome to the Baptist Board, and thanks for the interesting post in our "Baptist Denominations" forum. I will be looking forward to hearing more from you. I would also like to encourage you to visit the "Welcome to Baptist Board.com" forum and introduce yourself to everyone. Have a great day.

    rlvaughn, moderator
     
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