New Connexion of General Baptists facts for kids

The New Connexion of General Baptists was a special group of Baptist Christians in Great Britain. They started during a time of strong religious excitement called the Great Awakening. This group was different from the main General Assembly of General Baptists. The New Connexion is now part of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

History of the New Connexion

The New Connexion of General Baptists officially began in 1770. This happened in a place called Leicestershire, England. A man named Daniel Taylor was very important in starting this group.

Before 1770, there were already some Baptist churches in the east Midlands that were not happy with the main General Assembly. They had been loosely connected since the 1750s. One important group was called the Barton Society. It was based in Barton-in-the-Beans, near Market Bosworth. This society included churches in Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire.

Daniel Taylor brought these different groups together. They were unhappy because the main General Assembly seemed to be changing its beliefs. The Great Awakening made these churches want a stronger, more active faith. They had a "strong evangelistic zeal," meaning they really wanted to share their Christian message. They felt like a new, energetic part of the Methodist Revival.

The New Connexion of General Baptists was well-organized from the start. It grew quickly in the new cities that appeared during the Industrial Revolution. This was especially true in the industrial Midlands. By 1817, just after Daniel Taylor died, the New Connexion had about 70 churches.

How the Group Grew

By 1798, the New Connexion of General Baptists started its own school. This school was for training ministers and lay preachers. It helped them become ordained, which means officially recognized to lead churches.

The school first opened in Mile End, in London. Then, in 1813, it moved to Wisbech, Cambridgeshire. The school moved again in 1855 to Leicester. In 1882, it moved to Nottingham and was called the ‘Midland Baptist College’. This college closed around the time of the First World War. Its resources then went to Rawdon Baptist College.

The Baptist Union of Great Britain was formed in 1812. At first, it did not include General Baptists. But in 1832, the Baptist Union changed its rules. It made its beliefs simpler so more churches could join. It only asked for agreement on "evangelical" ideas, which are common Christian beliefs. Because of this, some churches from the New Connexion joined the Baptist Union.

Later, there was a big discussion called the Down Grade Controversy. This was a debate about how to understand the Bible. After this, it became easier for different Baptist groups to unite. John Clifford was an important leader. He was baptized in a New Connexion church and studied at their Midland Baptist College.

John Clifford became the President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain in 1888. Under his leadership, the New Connexion fully joined with the Baptist Union in 1891. They did not require either side to agree to a specific "confession of faith." This meant different ways of understanding Christian beliefs could come together. John Clifford also became the first President of the Baptist World Alliance. He held this role from 1905 to 1911.