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Why are we not called Baptists today? _____________________________________
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Do they believe the same as we did? _______________________________________
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What do we owe to Baptists? ____________________________________________
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Foundations of Our Faith 7
Anabaptists
Have you ever wondered why some Baptist churches are built in the middle of no- where? It is
the result of persecution. Baptists were non-conformists: a separatist group of Puritans which
broke away from the Anglican Church in order to pattern themselves on the Testament
churches?
One group would become The Pilgrim Fathers who went to America. Another group were the
first Baptists, led by John Smyth and Thomas Helwys (1570 – 1612).
Why are the called Baptists?
At first they were called Anabaptists because they believed in being baptised a second time as
an adult. During the reign of King James I, a 5 mile act was passed which forced non-
Conformists to meet five miles outside of any town in order to discourage them.
(Foundations for Life) 22
