Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East)

The Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East) (AGBC(SE)) is an association of churches in London and South East England.

Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East)
AbbreviationAGBC(SE)
Formation1871 (as Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches (M.A.S.B.C.))
TypeCalvinistic Baptist
Legal statusRegistered charity[1]
HeadquartersLondon
Location
  • 62 Bride Street, London N7 8AZ, United Kingdom
Region served
London and South East England
AGBCSE Secretary
Andrew King
Websitewww.gracebaptists.org

As of 2022 there are 65 member churches in the association.[2] All the members of the association are independent Baptist churches of an evangelical persuasion. All member churches with income of £100k or less are Excepted Charities.[3]

The association is a registered charity[1] and is a corporate partner of Affinity.[4] As part of its work it provides advice and support for its members. It is also involved in lobbying the government on issues important to its members, through its membership of Churches' Legislation Advisory Service (CLAS).[5]

History

The Association was established in 1871 as the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches (MASBC),[6] an association of 23 Strict Baptist churches. John Stevens, a Baptist minister in London, was noted for his influence in the formation of the association, which was motivated by concern to maintain clear Calvinist doctrines.[7]

The name "Strict" represented the position that the churches had on a strict or closed communion (also known at the Lord's Table), whereby the churches required all those taking part in this ordinance to be baptised by immersion.[8] The name "Strict" was, however, often misunderstood and gave the wrong impression to those outside of the churches, and so they later became known as "Grace Baptist" churches. This was reflected in the association's change of name to the current form.

As of 2022 there are 65 member churches in the association.[2]

See also

References
  1. "Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East), registered charity no. 276352". Charity Commission for England and Wales.
  2. "Church Directory". Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East). Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. "Excepted Charities" (PDF). Church Charities. Charities Commission. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  4. "Corporate Members". Affinity. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  5. "Member of Churches' Legislation Advisory Service (CLAS)". Churches' Legislation Advisory Service (CLAS). Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  6. "Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches". The National Archives. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. "Baptist churches in London" (PDF). Open University. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  8. "History of UK Baptists". London Baptist Association. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
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