The Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland (ABC, ABCi and ABCI) is a

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only ( believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compe ...

Christian denomination based in Ireland. It is a group of 117 autonomous Baptist churches working together in fellowship and evangelism, training and caring ministries. The association only acts on behalf of the churches for the work which the churches have agreed to do together.

History

The Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland has its origins in the establishment of Baptist churches in Cork (1640), Dublin (1642) and Waterford (1650). In 1725, there were 11 Baptist churches, and 9 formed the Irish Baptist Association. The Irish Baptist Association was reorganised in 1862, and was replaced by the Baptist Union of Ireland in 1895. Irish Baptists initially had a close relationship with the English Baptists. However, desire for independence caused the Irish Baptists to follow their own path and they set up the Union in 1895. The first Assembly meeting of the newly formed Union took place in May 1895 in Mountpottinger Baptist Church, Belfast with 27 churches present with two more being added to the membership in that meeting. They supported

Charles Spurgeon Charles Haddon Spurgeon (19 June 1834 – 31 January 1892) was an English Particular Baptist preacher. Spurgeon remains highly influential among Christians of various denominations, among whom he is known as the "Prince of Preachers". He wa ...

during the Downgrade Controversy that raged in the

Baptist Union of Great Britain Baptists Together (officially The Baptist Union of Great Britain) is a Baptist Christian denomination in England and Wales. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance and Churches Together in England. The headquarters is in Didcot. Hi ...

. The Union returned to its original name of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland in 2000, highlighting that they are an association of churches of like mind which seek to work and fellowship together. According to a denomination census released in 2020, it claimed 117 churches and 8,500 members. Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland
Who We Are
baptistsinireland.org, Ireland, retrieved 5 December 2020

Organisation

Departments include Baptist Women, Baptist Youth, Missions, Welfare, and Training (Irish Baptist Historical Society and Irish Baptist College). The ABC Insight is a bi-monthly magazine serving the churches. The

Baptist Centre The Baptist Centre is a building which houses the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland (ABC), its departments (Baptist Missions, Baptist Women, Baptist Youth, and others) and the Baptist Theological Centre which includes the Irish Baptist C ...

comprising the administrative offices and the

Irish Baptist College The Irish Baptist College (IBC) is a Baptist theological college in Moira, Craigavon, Northern Ireland. It is affiliated with the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland. It is part of the Baptist Theological Centre which is located in the ...

is located near

Moira, County Down Moira () is a village and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is in the northwest of the county, near the borders with counties Antrim and Armagh. The M1 motorway and Belfast–Dublin railway line are nearby. The population was 4, ...

, Northern Ireland. The association holds an annual assembly in May. The Churches Council meets during the week of the annual assembly and also annually in November. The purpose of the Council is to hear reports and conduct business. Matters are handled between sessions by the executive committee elected by the churches at the May Churches Council meeting.

Training

Promotes training among the churches and operates the

which seeks to train men and women for pastoral and necessary services.

Caring Ministries

By means of the Orphan Society, Annuity Fund and Baptist Aid provides support for those in need.

Members

Association members are referred to as Irish Baptists, however some choose to refer to themselves as Association Baptists to distinguish them from other Baptists. * Hugh D. Brown, an author, pastor-teacher in Dublin, politician in the

Irish Unionist Alliance The Irish Unionist Alliance (IUA), also known as the Irish Unionist Party, Irish Unionists or simply the Unionists, was a unionist political party founded in Ireland in 1891 from a merger of the Irish Conservative Party and the Irish Loyal and ...

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

of the Irish Baptist Association and theologian. * Alexander Carson, author of ''Baptism in its Mode and Subjects'', pastor-teacher and theologian. * William Young Fullerton * *

Hamilton Moore Hamilton Moore is a Baptist theologian and lecturer. Moore holds a Bachelor of Divinity, a Master of Theology, and a PhD. In 1990, Moore became principal and New Testament tutor at the Irish Baptist College in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. He is ...

References

External links

* {{Christianity in the United Kingdom Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, * 1862 establishments in Ireland All-Ireland organisations Baptist denominations established in the 19th century Baptist denominations in the United Kingdom Protestantism in Ireland Protestantism in the Republic of Ireland Protestantism in Northern Ireland Religious organisations based in Northern Ireland Religious organizations established in 1862