Baptist Heritage
Commission
Heritage Program at the BWA Congress
Jan 5-9, 2000 Melbourne Australia
The Origins of Baptists in
Australia
©
D. Parker, Sept 1999
Our 'Historical' History
The history of the
origins of Baptist work contain in these pages is the first comprehensive work
on the topic to be produced. It was written by Rev. William Higlett,
at that time Secretary of the Baptist Union of New South Wales, for the
inauguration of the Australian Baptist Union in August 1926. It is reproduced
here as a sample of his work to provide an introduction to Baptist work in
Australia and in honour of his 62 year ministry in Australia.
This
is his introduction:
So far as the
writer is aware, there has been no comprehensive attempt to place on record the
early history of the Baptist Churches in Australia, although there are some
detached records. In 1888 Rev. John Price contributed to “Truth and Progress” a
series of valuable articles upon South Australian churches. In 1905 Queensland
issued a volume to mark the jubilee of the Baptist Church in that State.
Generally, separate churches have issued jubilee volumes, but there has been no
concerted effort. The early pioneers have passed, and we are dependent upon
written or printed records, which are often very meagre. Having had occasion to
make researches, it seemed desirable to make some permanent record of the
results of my enquiries. Correspondents in all the States have given willing
assistance, and in the Mitchell Library I have been specially indebted to
papers gathered by Mr. O. R. Nicholls. I have confined these articles to early
history. That of later date may be more readily ascertained, and becomes the
history of separate churches or unions.
WILLIAM HIGLETT.
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