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 minister Hugh Evans was one of the first Baptists to preach in Wales around 1646, in the parishes of
Llan-hir,
Cefnllys,
Nantmel, and
Llanddewi Ystradenny, as well as in districts across the upper
Wye Valley in
Breconshire. In 1649
John Myles (1621–1683) and
Thomas Proud
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the Ap ...
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 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 (Protestantism), nonconformist minister, described as "the greatest preacher that the Baptists have ever had in Great Britain."
Life
Evans was born near the village o ...
(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, and the
Baptist World Alliance. The Union has its headquarters at Y Llwyfan on the
Carmarthen 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.
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
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