Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – English Descent theory Blown Out of the Water

Thomas E Kresal September 17, 2019

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – English Descent theory Blown Out of the Water

The English Baptists are Descended from the German Baptists

We now come to the direct question — ” Where did the English Baptists originate?’^ Historians admit that per- sons holding Baptist views, have existed in various parts of England and Wales from very early times. This may be seen from the proclamations and edicts of kings against the hated “Anabaptists.’ The same is shown by Davis, in his History of the Welsh Baptists; and by Crosby, Orchard, and Evans, in their histories of English Baptists.

It is an egregious mistake to suppose that the English Baptists had their rise since the Reformation of the six- teenth century. But, owing to the fierce and continued persecutions waged against them, they were accustomed, as much as. possible, to conceal themselves from public view. They frequently met in private houses, or barns, and even in the thick forest in the dead of night, for the worship of God ; but whenever they were detected by the vigilance of Papal spies, they were seized and delivered over to the vengeance of the secular arm. And from the fact that all their books and records were diligently sought and burned by their enemies, we have but little material for history, except the prejudiced statements and edicts of their enemies. We are, however, able to furnish many instances of the emigration of German Baptists to England in these early times. Many of the early Baptists of England were called Lollards.

Mr. Crosby, the historian, says : ” In the time of King Edward the Second, about the year 1315, Walter Lollard, a German preacher, a man of great renown among the Waldenses came into England; he spread their doctrines very much in these parts, so that afterward they went by the name Lollard’s. Crosby’s History of English Baptists pg. 46, vol. II.

That these Lollards were Baptists, who had their descent through the German Baptists, from the ancient Waldenses, is shown by Mr. Orchard. “The Lollard’s Tower which these witnesses for Christ suffered, still stands as a monument of Papal cruelty towards these English Baptist.” Orchard’s English Baptist History, pg. 118

Prepared by Thomas E. Kresal from: Baptist Succession: Handbook of Baptist History by D.B. Ray, pg. 186-87

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