The origins of the Baptist Union of Scotland 1800-1870
In the period 1800 to 1827 there were three streams of Baptists in Scotland: Scotch, Haldaneite and 'English' Baptists. Scotch Baptists were distinguishable by their belief in the plurality of elders and a desire for unanimity in doctrine and practice. Haldaneite Baptists were a network of churches that came into being, in the period 1808 to1810, after Robert and James Haldane adopted Baptist principles in 1808.1laldaneites, like the 'English' Baptists who had close ties to English Particular Baptists, normally held to a 'sole pastor and deacons' model of church leadership. A strong commitment to home evangelisation brought these three bodies closer together, leading to a merger of their home mission societies to form the Baptist Home Missionary Society for Scotland (B.H.M.S.). The B.H.M.S. was a marked success, with workers over much of rural Scotland, especially the Highlands and Islands, leading some Scottish Baptists to view the society as a 'Baptist Union' prior to 1869. The majority of Scottish Baptists, however, felt the need for a separate union of churches, but disagreement over the aims and objectives of a union led to three unsuccessful merger attempts. The first Baptist Union was an exclusively
Talbot, Brian Richard
Baptists Scotland History ; Baptist Union of Scotland
The origins of the Baptist Union of Scotland 1800-1870. In the period 1800 to 1827 there were three streams of Baptists in Scotland: Scotch, Haldaneite and 'English' Baptists. Scotch Baptists were distinguishable by their belief in the plurality of elders and a desire for unanimity in doctrine and practice. Haldaneite Baptists were a network of churches that came into being, in the period 1808 to1810, after Robert and James Haldane adopted Baptist principles in 1808.1laldaneites, like the 'English' Baptists who had close ties to English Particular Baptists, normally held to a 'sole pastor and deacons' model of church leadership. A strong commitment to home evangelisation brought these three bodies closer together, leading to a merger of their home mission societies to form the Baptist Home Missionary Society for Scotland (B.H.M.S.). The B.H.M.S. was a marked success, with workers over much of rural Scotland, especially the Highlands and Islands, leading some Scottish Baptists to view the society as a 'Baptist Union' prior to 1869. The majority of Scottish Baptists, however, felt the need for a separate union of churches, but disagreement over the aims and objectives of a union led to three unsuccessful merger attempts. The first Baptist Union was an exclusively
origin baptist union scotland period baptists scotland baptists baptists distinguishable belief plurality elder desire doctrine practice baptists network church come period james adopt baptist principle like english baptists close tie english particular_baptists normally hold sole pastor model church leadership strong commitment home bring body closer together lead merger home mission society form baptist home missionary_society scotland mark success worker much rural scotland especially highlands islands lead scottish baptists view society baptist union prior majority scottish baptists however felt need separate union church disagreement aim_objective union lead unsuccessful merger attempt first baptist union exclusively