Welsh Tract Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Welsh Tract Old School Baptist Church
|
|
Welsh Tract Baptist Church, October 2012
|
|
 Location in Delaware
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Welsh Tract Rd., Newark, Delaware |
|---|---|
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1746 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000527 |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1973 |
The Welsh Tract Old School Baptist Church is a very old church building. It's located on Welsh Tract Road in Newark, Delaware. Welsh settlers built this simple brick church in 1746. It has a special roof called a jerkinhead roof. This church is a historic place that tells a story about early American settlers.
Contents
The Church's Early Days
.jpg)
In the 1600s, many people in England and Wales became Baptists. This was a time of religious change. By 1701, sixteen Baptists from Wales decided to move to America. They wanted to find a place where they could practice their faith freely.
They sailed from Wales in June 1701 and arrived in Philadelphia in September. Other Baptist leaders told them to join a church nearby. The group stayed there for about a year and a half. They held their own meetings and followed their traditions from Wales. During this time, 21 more people joined their group.
Moving to a New Home
The Welsh Baptists had some different practices from other Baptists in Pennsylvania. One main difference was about a ceremony called "laying on of hands." Because of these differences, the Welsh Baptists decided to find a new home.
In 1703, they bought 30,000 acres of land in New Castle County, Delaware. This land was near what is now Newark, Delaware. It was called the Welsh Tract. They built a small meeting house there. People called their community the "Emigrant Church." This was partly because of their unique practices, like laying on of hands and singing hymns.
This first church building was used until 1746. That's when the current church building was constructed. Thomas Griffith was the first pastor of the church. He led the church until he passed away in 1725.
Spreading the Faith
Members from the Welsh Tract Church helped start other Baptist churches. These new churches were in places like London Tract, Wilmington, and even South Carolina. The practices of the Welsh Tract Church became common for Baptist churches in the Middle States. A minister named Paul Palmer, who started a different branch of Baptists, also attended this church in the 1700s.
Old School vs. New School Baptists
The Welsh Tract Baptist Church was a founding member of the Philadelphia Baptist Association. This was a group of Baptist churches. However, in 1836, the Welsh Tract Church left this group. It joined a new group called the Delaware River Old School Baptist Association.
Why the Split Happened
Around this time, many Baptist churches in America started new programs. These included mission societies, Bible societies, and Sunday Schools. They also focused on training ministers and holding revival meetings.
However, a group called the Old School Baptists did not agree with these new ideas. They believed these practices were not found in the New Testament of the Bible. They wanted to stick to older, simpler ways of worship. This disagreement led to a big split in 1832.
Elder Samuel Trott was the pastor of Welsh Tract Church during this time. He believed in following Christ's example very closely. He felt that the church should rely on God's wisdom to spread its message.
Another leader, Elder Thomas Barton, also spoke about this. He said that the work of salvation belongs to God. He believed that people should not try to force religious changes.
In 1836, the Old School Baptists decided not to welcome people into their fellowship who were involved in these "new-fangled systems." By 1856, their group was officially called "The Delaware Old School Baptist Association."
The Church Today
The Welsh Tract Old School Baptist Church still holds meetings. They meet on the second Sunday of every month. Elder Robert Lackey is the current pastor.
The church does not have its own official website. However, members and friends share information about the church's beliefs online. They use social media like Facebook and YouTube. There is also a company called Welsh Tract Publications. This company publishes materials about Old School Baptist principles.
The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
