MONEY, MISSION AND MINISTRY
The Particular Baptist Fund, 1717–2017
By Tim Grass
Gipping Press. 98 pages. £6.00
ISBN 978 0 995 473 652
The Toleration Act 1689 granted Non-conformists freedom of worship after almost 30 years of persecution. Inevitably they emerged weakened from this experience of oppression. Not only had many of them suffered heavy fines and even imprisonment, but they were still subject to discrimination. They were excluded from the universities in England and from some of the learned professions.
The Particular or Calvinistic Baptists formed one such group of churches. While their churches were independent, it was clear that concerted action was needed to meet the challenges of a changed situation. Within a few months of the passage of the Toleration Act, their pastors and representatives met in a General Assembly in London. One of the most important things they did was to commend to their churches a fine Confession of Faith which had been composed in London some 12 years earlier. This proclaimed the doctrinal heritage that they shared with other Calvinistic Dissenters in great central areas of orthodox Protestantism. It made clear their position in the mainstream of English Puritanism. At the same time it expounded their Baptist church order. The years of persecution had not changed their identity. It was necessary, however, to make provision for the future
