Church Confessions
As a rule, each church drew up her own doctrinal statement. Benjamin Keach did this for his congregation in the year 1697, eight years after putting his name to the 1689 Confession. In the preface to his church, he wrote, “My Brethren, I here present you with that which you have so long waited for…to state an account of the most concerning Articles of your Faith…”. In the year 1729, John Gill drew up a new confession for the same church called The Goat Yard Declaration. Gill’s Declaration was then used by other churches as a template. In fact, Gill’s Body of Divinity (1769) became the doctrinal backbone for the Strict and Particular Baptists thereafter.
-
The Articles Of Faith For The Strict Baptist Chapel At Carlton, Bedford
The church of Christ meeting at Carlton, Bedford came together in 1672, when Gideon Fisher’s house was licensed for Congregational worship. In 1760, the congregation moved to a new chapel in Causeway with a seating capacity of 700 people. The late Kenneth Dix, chairman for the Strict Baptist Historical Society, served as pastor for this church between the years 1967 and 1970. During the early 1990’s, the congregation amalgamated with Harrold Evangelical Church, now known as the Grace Baptist Church meeting in the Old Mission Hall in Harrold High Street. The chapel was sold in the early 2000’s, converted to a private residence. The church was aligned with the teachings of the Strict and Particular Baptists, at least until the mid-20th century. The fourteenth pastor of…
-
The Articles Of Faith Of A Strict And Particular Baptist Church
Articles Of The Faith And Order Of A Primitive Or Strict And Particular Baptist Church Of The Lord Jesus Christ, Based On The Declaration Of Faith And Practice Of John Gill, D. D., 1720 Anne Askew, Martyred 1846“I am not she that list My anchor to let fall, For every fleeting mist, My hope’s substantial."Gorge Murrell, St. Neots“I may lose all my friends. Well, be it so, if it is God’s will; but I am determined to go to hevane alone, rather than walk in fellowship with any who repudiate His truth, and decline to obey His commandments.”------------------------------- Introduction: Having been enabled, through Divine grace, to give ourselves to the Lord, and likewise to one another, according to the will of God[1], we count it…
-
The Gospel Standard Articles Of Faith
Preface I was the pastor of a Strict and Particular Baptist church (Bethesda Chapel, Kensington) in London, England, for twenty years. The church was organized in 1866, with a number of prominent Strict Baptist preachers presiding over the meeting, such as John Hazelton of Mount Zion Chapel, Chadwell Street. As with many Strict Baptist churches of the mid-twentieth century, the Bethesda congregation decreased in number and her teachings merged with those of Low and Moderate-Calvinism. It was into that context I was appointed the pastor in 1999. For the first eleven years of ministry, I assumed the Low and Moderate Calvinist view of the gospel was that around which the church had been organized. However, as I explored the history of the church, and indeed,…
-
The Goat Yard Declaration of Faith (1729)
A Declaration of the Faith and Practice of the Church of Christ at Horsely-down, under the Pastoral Care of Mr. John Gill, &c. Having been enabled, through divine grace, to give up ourselves to the Lord, and likewise to one another by the will of God; we account it a duty incumbent upon us to make a declaration of our faith and practice, to the honour of Christ, and the glory of his name; knowing, that as with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, so with the mouth confession is made unto salvation--our declaration is as follows: 1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are the word of God, and the only rule of faith and practice. 2. We believe…
-
Biddenden Chapel
With the combined energies and resources of a deacon belonging to Tilden Chapel in Smarden, and a farmer residing in Lashenden, a Strict and Particular Baptist Chapel was built in 1880. Two years after the chapel opened, a church was organized and John Kemp was appointed the first pastor. He served the fellowship until his death in 1932, a total of 52 years. Biddenden Chapel, 1880 John Kemp, Pastor
-
Waddesdon Hill Chapel
Many of the members in succeeding generations were relatives of the first congregation and were buried on the chapel grounds. Pastor Kevin Price, of Zoar Particular Baptist Chapel, Bradford, prizes the distinct values embraced by historic Strict/Particular Baptist churches. For the last several years, he has arranged annual services at Waddesdon Chapel for the purpose of commemorating the Strict Baptist witness. The following photos were taken during several different commemorative meetings. From the balcony, during the service. From behind the pulpit, before the service. The baptistry is under the floor in front of the pulpit. ----------------------------------- The church of Christ meeting for divine worship at Waddesdon Hill, Buckinghamshire, subscribed to the following “Articles of Faith and Rules”.[1] Articles of Faith We believe in the unity…
