The Baptist Union of Wales (Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru) is a fellowship of
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 compete ...
churches in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
.
History
The
General Baptist
General Baptists are Baptists who hold the ''general'' or unlimited atonement view, the belief that Jesus Christ died for the entire world and not just for the chosen Election (Christianity), elect. General Baptists are theologically Arminian, whic ...
minister Hugh Evans was one of the first Baptists to preach in Wales around 1646, in the parishes of
Llan-hir,
Cefnllys
Cefnllys is an abandoned ghost village, formerly a medieval castle town and borough, near Llandrindod Wells in Radnorshire (now part of Powys), Wales. The settlement was founded during the 13th century by the Mortimer family in order to streng ...
,
Nantmel
Nantmel is a village and a community in Radnorshire, Powys, Wales, and is 76.5 miles (123.1 km) from Cardiff and 150.5 miles (242.2 km) from London. In 2011 the population of Nantmel was 621 with 11.8% of them able to speak Welsh. ...
, and
Llanddewi Ystradenny
Llanddewi Ystradenni is a community in Radnorshire, Powys, Wales. The population of the Community at the 2011 census was 310.
Centred on the village of Llanddewi, it also includes the hamlet of Heartsease.
The motte and bailey
A motte-and-ba ...
, as well as in districts across the upper
Wye Valley
The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB; cy, Dyffryn Gwy) is an internationally important protected landscape straddling the border between England and Wales.
The River Wye ( cy, Afon Gwy) is the fourth-longest river in th ...
in
Breconshire
, image_flag=
, HQ= Brecon
, Government= Brecknockshire County Council (1889-1974)
, Origin= Brycheiniog
, Status=
, Start= 1535
, End= ...
. In 1649
John Myles (1621–1683) and
Thomas Proud led in the formation of a congregation at
Ilston
Ilston ( cy, Llanilltud Gwyr) is the name of a village and a local government community in Swansea, southwest Wales. Ilston has its own community council.
Description
The population of the community in the United Kingdom Census 2001 was 538 and 5 ...
, before Myles emigrated to
Swansea, Massachusetts
Swansea is a town in Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts.
It is located at the mouth of the Taunton River, just west of Fall River, south of Boston, and southeast of Providence, Rhode Island. The population was 17,144 at the 2020 cens ...
, in 1663.
Myles and Proud were connected to the
Particular Baptists
Reformed Baptists (sometimes known as Particular Baptists or Calvinistic Baptists) are Baptists that hold to a Calvinist soteriology (salvation). The first Calvinist Baptist church was formed in the 1630s. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith w ...
in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
. In 1650 three Baptist congregations held the first general meeting of Baptists in Wales. The national union was organized in 1866. One of the most notable Welsh Baptist ministers was
Christmas Evans
Christmas Evans (25 December 1766 – 19 July 1838) was a Welsh nonconformist minister, described as "the greatest preacher that the Baptists have ever had in Great Britain."
Life
Evans was born near the village of Llandysul, Cardiganshire. ...
(1766–1838).
Membership
The Baptist Union of Wales is a member of the
Free Church Council,
Cytûn
Cytûn: Churches Together in Wales (, "agreed"; ) is a national ecumenical organisation of churches in Wales, formed in 1990. It is the successor to the former Council of Churches for Wales. Cytûn's offices are located in Richmond Road, Cardiff. ...
(Churches Together in Wales), the
European Baptist Federation
The European Baptist Federation (EBF) is a federation of 59 Baptist associations and is one of six regional fellowships in the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
History
The EBF was founded in Ruschlikon, Swit ...
, and the
Baptist World Alliance
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is the largest international Baptist organization with an estimated 51 million people in 2022 with 246 member bodies in 128 countries and territories. A voluntary association of Baptist churches, the BWA account ...
. The Union has its headquarters at Y Llwyfan on the
Carmarthen
Carmarthen (, RP: ; cy, Caerfyrddin , "Merlin's fort" or "Sea-town fort") is the county town of Carmarthenshire and a community in Wales, lying on the River Towy. north of its estuary in Carmarthen Bay. The population was 14,185 in 2011, ...
campus of the
University of Wales Trinity Saint David
, image = Crest of TSD.png
, image_size = 200px
, caption = Coat of armsUniversity of Wales Trinity Saint David
, established = 2010 (Saint David's College, Lampeter founded 1822 and opened 1827; royal charter 1828)
, ...
. College Road, Carmarthen, SA31 3EQ, and churches serving both Welsh- and English-speaking communities in villages, towns, and cities across Wales. In 1995 the Baptist Union of Wales had 544 congregations with 25,384 members. 146 of these churches (with 9552 members) held dual membership 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 ...
.
See also
*
Nonconformism
Nonconformity or nonconformism may refer to:
Culture and society
* Insubordination, the act of willfully disobeying an order of one's superior
*Dissent, a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or entity
** ...
*
Religion in Wales
Religion in Wales has, over the years, become increasingly diverse. Christianity was the religion of virtually all of the Welsh population until the late 20th century, but it has rapidly declined throughout the early 21st century. Today a plura ...
References
Sources
*Albert W. Wardin Jr., ed. ''Baptists Around the World''. Nashville, Tenn.: Broadman & Holman, 1995
* T. M. Bassett ''The Welsh Baptists''. Swansea: Ilston House, 1977
External links
Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru/Baptist Union of Wales- official Web Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baptist Union Of Wales
1866 establishments in Wales
Baptist Christianity in Wales
Baptist denominations in the United Kingdom
Religious organizations established in 1866