The Church Timeline

Baptist History

JLJ church founded by Henry Jacob, John Lathrop, and Henry Jessey. This was one of seven churches to sign the First London Baptist Confession.

Schleitheim ConfessionFirst anabaptist confession, possible Baptist origin

Samuel Eaton founds a church. This was one of seven churches to sign the First London Baptist Confession.

1616

1527

1633

1638

1630

1609

Believers Baptism is adopted by John Smyth and Thomas Helwys’s church. This would go on the be a defining doctrine of the Baptists

John Duppa founds a church. He called for separation from England because of their baptism beliefs. This was one of the seven churches to sign the First London Baptist Confession

John Spilesbury founds a church. He started this church on basis of belief in believer’s baptism and immersion. This was one of seven churches to sign the First London Baptist Confession.

Baptist History

The Declaration of Breda is issued by Charles II. It offers some religious tolerance.

Richard Blunt founds a church. He starts a new church on basis of belief in baptism by full immersion. This was one of seven churches to sign the First London Baptist Confession.

The First London Baptist Confession is signed by seven separatist churches. This document unified them under their convictions.

1660

1644

1639

1639

1665

1648

Conventicle Act punished anyone who held a service (more than 5 people) outside of the church of England. This was targeted towards Baptists.

The first Baptist church in America is founded in Providence, RI by Roger Williams.

The Second Baptist church in America is founded in Newport, RI by John Clarke.

Baptist History

John Bunyan served in the puritan army in civil war. He wrote "Pilgrims Progress" which continues to be an influencial work today.

Christopher Blackwood was an Anglican priest who converted to Baptist. He was chaplain in Cromwell's army and pioneered the Baptist movement in Ireland.

The Second London Baptist Confession is signed.

1689

d. 1670

d. 1688

1684

1693

1689

The general Baptists and the general association split due to theological liberalism.

The first Baptist church in the middle colonies is founded by Thomas Dungan in Cold Springs, PA.

The Act of Toleration ushers in a new era of religious liberty. There was no longer a license required to preach and places of public worship were allowed if they were registered.

Baptist History

The Warren Association is founded. It founded a college that would become Brown University, the first Baptist university in America

The Philadelphia Association is formed. This was the first formal Baptist association and was based on Second London confession.

The First Baptist church in the south is founded by Screven in Charleston, SC.

1696

1767

1707

1792

1719

d. 1704

Particular Baptist Society for the Propagation of the Gospel Among the Heathen is formed to send William Carey overseas. This would later become the BMS.

Benjamin Keach pastored in the south London in church where Spurgeon was later called

Orthodoxy is voted not to change at the Salter's Hill controversy.

Baptist History

The Baptist General Tract Society is formed. It published helpful literature for individuals and churches.

George Whitefield preaches throughout all the colonies starting in the south (Great Awakening).

The Triennial Convention is formed. This was the first national Baptist convention.

1824

1814

1793

1817

1813

d. 1834

William Carey was a Baptist missionary to India. He is known as the "father of modern missions."

The Home Missionary Society is formed. It focused mainly on misisons in America.

The General Union is formed. The particular Baptist's make a thorough theological statement of faith under it.

Baptist History

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is formed. This was the first Baptist seminary.

Lottie Moon was a missionary in China. Her ministery was long and influential even as a single woman.

William Knibb was highly infuential in the Baptist movement in fighting for freedom for all blacks

d. 1845

d. 1912

1859

1845

1891

1917

There was a full merger between general and particular Baptists that came from the General Union

Executive Committee is formed. It moved the SBC towards centralization, cooperation, and efficiency. It effectively ran the SBC thorughout the year.

Baptist’s split into northern and southern over the issue of slavery. This was the start of the Southern Baptist convention

Baptist History

The Baptist Faith and Message is written. This confession is still held by Baptists today.

The Baptist denomination continued to spread and by this year there were Baptists in all 50 states

1925

1965

1977

1957

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is founded. It was the sixth Baptist seminary formed. This timeline is made possible by this institution.

The fundamentalism plan was a strategy for top-down conservative reform in the SBC.