It is a mistake to suppose that all the Baptist churches in America grew out of the one which Roger Williams founded. It is even doubtful whether any single church arose as an outgrowth of that. As immigration increased, other churches grew up, having no connection with that; and with considerable rapidity the sentiments of Baptists spread into adjoining colonies, particularly west and south. For a long time, however, they were sorely persecuted, especially in Massachusetts and Connecticut; persecuted even by those who had themselves fled from persecution in their native land, to find freedom and refuge in these distant wilds.
In 1644, the present First Church in Newport, R. I., was organized. But whether the present First Church in Providence was constituted before this date is still a disputed point. Both claim priority. In 1656, the Second Church, Newport, was formed. Then followed in order of time the church in Swansea, Massachusetts, 1663; First, Boston, 1665; North Kingstone, R. I., 1665; Seventh Day Church, Newport, 1671; South Kingstone, R. I., 1680; Kittery, Me., 1682; Middletown, N. J., 1688; Lower Dublin, Pa., 1689; Charleston, S. C., 1690; Philadelphia, Pa., 1698; Welsh Tract, Del., 1701; Groton, Ct., 1705. Others, not mentioned, arose within this period in these and other colonies. With the increase of population, Baptists rapidly increased and widely spread over the country.
Edward’s Tables gives the number of American Baptist Churches in 1768, as only 137.
Asplund’s Register for 1790, reported 872 churches, 722 ordained ministers, with 64,975 members.
Benedict’s History states that in 1812, there were 2,633 churches, 2,143 ordained ministers, and 204,185 members.
Allen’s Register for 1836, puts them at 7,299 churches, 4.075 ordained ministers, and 517,523 members.
The Baptist Year-Book gives the following figures:
| Date | Churches | Ministers | Members |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 7,771 | 5,208 | 571,291 |
| 1860 | 12,279 | 7,773 | 1,016,134 |
| 1880 | 26,080 | 16,569 | 2,296,327 |
| 1890 | 33,588 | 21,175 | 3,070,047 |
| 1900 | 43,427 | 29,473 | 4,181,086 |
| 1910 | 49,045 | 33,909 | 5,266,369 |
| 1920 | 53,866 | 42,121 | 7,504,447 |
| 1930 | 53,888 | 49,907 | 8,915,785 |
The Year-Book gives the Sunday school statistics for 1930, as follows: For the United States, schools, 46,132; total enrollment 5,143,056.
The figures given in all these cases are probably less than the actual facts warrant, since full reports from associations, churches, and schools can never be obtained.