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The origin and spread of the early Baptist churches in England and elsewhere

The origins of Baptist churches go back to the 1600s. 

The very first Baptist church began in 1609 and was for English speaking Christians based in the Netherlands, relocating to London in 1611 (Thomas Helwys). These churches were known as "General Baptists" and followed the theology of Arminius and the Anabaptists. 

A second genesis of Baptist churches was in London in about 1638 (John Spilsbury). These churches followed the Reformed Theology of John Calvin and the Synod of Dordt. In 1644, the First London Baptist Confession was signed by seven Baptist churches in the capital. 

Baptist churches later spread from London outwards. 

During the time of the English Civil War (1642-1651), there were Baptist Christians in the New Model Army of Oliver Cromwell. In 1648 the New Model Army campaigned in Lancashire during the Second Civil War. 

From about 1649/50, John Wigan (d. 1665) was pastor of a Baptist church meeting in Chetham's hospital which is now part Chetham's College of Music in Manchester. He was later succeeded by another pastor. 

There is also a Baptist Church at Warrington (Hillcliffe Baptist Church) which goes back to about 1654 and whose first pastor was Thomas Lowe (d. 1695). 

By 1695, the Yorkshire and Lancashire Association of Baptist Churches was already formed, and represented by six churches: Rawdon, Tottlebank, Bacup (started in in 1691 and first pastored by William Mitchell), Sutton, Heptonstall and Barnoldswick. William Mitchell and David Crossley in establishing the "chain of Baptist causes across Lancashire and Yorkshire" at this time.  

Later, in the 1700s, we hear of Baptist churches across historic Lancashire in places such as Liverpool (started 1700), Newchurch, Goodshaw (1760), Lumb (1750), Rossendale, Preston (1782) and Rochdale (1775). In 1806, a meeting of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Association of Baptist churches was held at Accrington. 

At the time William Gadsby served as pastor of Back Lane Particular Baptist Chapel off George Road in Manchester from 1805, there appear to have been at least another two Baptist churches in the town - on York Street (begun in 1808, a breakaway from Gadsby's church) and on George Street.

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