In the last episode we described Berned Foskett’s leadership in re-constituting the Western Association upon the basis of the 1689 Confession. Full subscription was required annually with the only exceptions being in a church’s views of singing in public worship and on which day the Sabbath was to be celebrated. What was the response by the churches? Some refused to be a part of this of course. The General Baptists and those with Arian or Unitarian leanings went their own way.

But 24 churches, including several from Wales, answered this invitation in the affirmative and in 1733 met in renewed association. These included both of the Particular Baptist churches in Bristol – Broadmead and Pithay. Bradford-on-Avon was represented and there is still a 1689 confessional Baptist church in that town. In fact, two of the articles I used in preparing this episode were written by pastors of that church. Smaller and more rural churches were represented, often with meetings in multiple towns due to distance. Larger cities such as Exeter, Plymouth, and Swansea also signed on.

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