FOUNDATIONS OF BAPTISTS IN PENNSYLVANIA (ODELL)

Many to whom I write will quickly recognize the importance of the year 1701. They will know it has to do with the arrival of a duly constituted Church of Jesus Christ upon American soil which had immigrated on shipboard from Wales to settle in the new world. As a Gospel Church of Jesus Christ, they had come seeking religious liberty to worship without fear in a free land as had many of their brethren of like kind some fourteen years earlier. This is not altogether about them. It is about the kind Providence of God respecting those Baptists that preceded them from different countries and assembled themselves together as Gospel Churches in and around Pennepek, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. 

According to Wikipedia, there is a congregation situated in the 23^rd ward of Philadelphia near what is now known as Pennypack Creek. The name of the meeting is Pennepack Baptist Church. However, this congregation has long since departed from the old paths it once walked upon. We shall now speak of these more ancient forerunners of the Old Baptist Faith and Order before the WELSH TRACT OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CHURCH of Newark, Delaware.

“About the year 1686, one John Eaton, George Eaton and Jane his wife, Sarah Eaton and Samuel Jones (members of a Baptist church residing in Llanddewi and Nantmel in Radonshire whereof Rev. Henry Gregory was overseer), also John Baker (member of a church in Kilkenny in Ireland whereof Rev. Christopher Blackwell was pastor), and one Samuel Vaus from England arrived, and settled on the banks of Pennepek. In the year 1687 Rev. Elias Keach of London came among them and baptized one Ashton and Jane his wife, William Fisher, and John Watts, which increased their number to twelve souls including the minister. These twelve did by mutual consent form themselves into a Church in the month of January 1688, choosing Mr. Keach to be their minister, and Samuel Vaus to be their Deacon. Soon after, the few immigrated Baptists in the province and West Jersey did join them; also, those whom Mr. Keach baptized at the Falls, Coldspring, Burlington, Cohansey, Chester, and Philadelphia; which quarterly meetings have since transformed into three yearly meetings and an association. Thus, for some time, continued their Zion with lengthened cords of till the brethren in remote parts set about forming themselves into distinct churches which began in 1699 and continued till of late years.” MATERIALS TOWARDS A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN BAPTISTS by Morgan Edwards, 1770.

Morgan Edwards continued his most interesting history as follows: “By these detachments, Pennepek was reduced to narrow bounds, but yet abides among the churches of as a mother in the midst of many daughters. Various difficulties they passed through over the course of 82 years; but having obtained the help of God to continue to this day (1770, D.O.) are in a comfortable situation under the care of their present worthy pastor. At their settlement and during the administration of Mr. Keach they were the same as now with respect to faith and order; but when their number increased, and the emigrants from differing churches in Europe incorporated with them divisions began to take place about various things, such as absolute predestination; laying on of hands; distributing the elements; singing of psalms; seventh-day sabbath, etc. which threw the body ecclesiastic into a fever. In the year 1747, a tumult arose about the choice of a minister which resulted in a separation. But this and the other maladies healed when the pecannt humors had purged off, and the design of Providence accomplished, which design is expressed in these notable words, there must be divisions among you they who are approved may be made manifest, I Cor. 11:19.”

 

How this plays out in history respecting the kind Providence of our Almighty God is as follows: “In the year 1701, there were a number of members of the Baptist churches in the counties of Pembroke, Carmarthen, and Cardigan, (Wales, D.O.) inclined to emigrate to Pennsylvania. Having consulted among themselves, they laid the case before the churches, which agreed to grant them leave to go. But the churches considered that as they were sixteen members, and one of them an ordained minister, it would be better for them to be constituted a church in their native land. They agreed and did so. Being thus formed into a church, they gave them a letter of recommendation for their reception as brethren, should they meet any of the same faith, order, and practice.” THE AMERICAN BAPTIST HERITAGE IN WALES, Joshua Thomas, (1719-1797). [It seems to be generally understood Elder Thomas published his history in 1787. D.O.]

 

Elder Thomas continued: “They sailed in June that year from Milford Haven in the ship called James and Mary and arrived at Philadelphia the September following. They were cordially received by the Baptist Church meeting at PENNEPEC and PHILADELPHIA, which was then the only church of the denomination in the province of Pennsylvania. They spent about a year and a half in that vicinity. These newcomers kept their meetings, weekly and monthly, among themselves during that time; but held Christian conferences with the other Church. They wholly agreed with them, excepting the practice of laying on of hands, to which the newcomers strictly adhered: but the majority of the other church opposed. They had several meetings to attempt accommodation in that matter, yet they could not fully agree. During that year and a half, the sixteen had two and twenty added to them, by letters and baptism, which made them 38. But these and a number of others with them from Wales, at the end of that term, removed and purchased a large tract of land in Newcastle County, on Delaware…which they called…Welsh Tract. This was in the year 1703…Thus were they settled and were the second Baptist Church in that province. And some did esteem this the most regular church of the two.”

 

Such is the kind Providence of our great King to order these things on behalf of the immigrated Church from Wales that became known as the Welsh Tract Church. It is still extant and identified as WELSH TRACT OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CHURCH. To be sure, it stands as it has always stood holding firmly to that faith once delivered to the saints. See Romans 11:36.

Dan O’Dell, Weslaco, 

TX. 2.26.2024