Baptist Churches

Protestants who baptize believers by immersion and prize the free congregation.

from 1609 CE → · England & America, then worldwide · Abrahamic

The Baptist movement emerged in the early 17th century among Protestants who held that baptism should be reserved for those old enough to profess their own faith, administered by full immersion. They emphasized the independence of each local congregation and, historically, liberty of conscience. Baptists became especially numerous in the United States and are now one of the largest Protestant groupings globally.

Key figures

• John Smyth (early leader)

Texts

• The Bible

Beliefs

• Baptism of believers, not infants
• The independence of each local congregation
• Personal faith and conversion

Rituals

• Full-immersion baptism
• Congregational worship and preaching

Grew from

• Protestantism

Connections in the atlas

• William Miller
• The Underground Railroad
• ▶ The Reformation and after