The history of the Baptist Church traces back to 16th century and demands from early Christians that the Church of England reform.
Here are six events that led up to the creation of the Baptist church in the 17th century:
1. Beginning in the 16th century, many people rebelled against the corruption in the Church of England. "The Protestant Reformation was the 16th-century religious, political, intellectual and cultural upheaval that splintered Catholic Europe, setting in place the structures and beliefs that would define the continent in the modern era,"
says History.com
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2. The beginning of Reformation is typically dated to the 1517 publication of Martin Luther’s "95 Theses" in Germany. The writing basically attacked the Catholic Church for its willingness to sell "indulgences" to wipe away sin. "The Catholic Church was ever after divided, and the Protestantism that soon emerged was shaped by Luther's ideas. His writings changed the course of religious and cultural history in the West," says History.com.
3. Protestant theologian John Calvin also moved the Reformation forward. "John Calvin is at least on a par with Martin Luther as the creator of the Reformation," according to Boise
State University's European history. "Luther's followers created a formal church, but Calvin's followers created many churches; among them, the French Huguenots, the English Puritans, the Scottish Presbyterians, and the Dutch Reformed Church."
4. English translations of the Bible were another factor that supported the Reformation. The availability of the Bible to the average person allowed many more to read the book.
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5. Henry VIII was a significant factor in England's Reformation, and it was his search for a male heir that started the process. According to History.com, "When Pope Clement VII refused to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he could remarry, the English king declared in 1534 that he alone should be the final authority in matters relating to the English church." Henry broke down England's monasteries in order to steal their wealth and placed the Bible in the hands of the people. In 1536, every parish was required to have a copy.
6. The result of the Reformation was ultimately the creation of the Baptist Church, among others. Influenced by Calvin's teachings, a group in the Church of England separated to become the Puritans. A second group, known as the Separatists, also separated. It was this group that split into churches such as the Quakers, Presbyterians, Congregationalists and also the Baptists.
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