What Church Planting Techniques Did the New Connexion use when planting their churches? Graham Doel 2007 Graham Doel December 2007 0.0.1 2007-11-21 Working Summary An analysis of the Church Planting Methods of the New Connexion of General Baptists (1770-1891). It includes examination of the Social, Political and Theological background to the establishment of the denomination and the methods of church planting that they used.
Plan Introduction (summarise the plan) Identify the first period of the New Connexion Development Identify the founding groups Dan Taylor's churches The Barton group. Philosophical changes influencing the time Social backdrop to their establishment Political backdrop Pull the threads together. Identify the second period and change in planting style. Philosophical changes influencing the time Social backdrop to their establishment Political backdrop Pull the threads together. Conclusion
Introduction When the Connexion formed in 1770 under the leadership of Dan (Daniel) Taylor there were two main groups that united under the banner of "The New Connexion of General Baptists". The churches in these groups were formed out of a mixture of evangelistic activity and theological conviction. There were two distinct phases in the way the New Connexion established churches. Broadly speaking the first stage was led by individuals and churches. The second stage was led by the General Assembly and key figures within the Connexion.
Dan Taylor's Churches As architect of the Connexion and most frequent Chair of its Assembly one commentator has called the Connexion "The Tribe of Dan"Rinaldi, The Tribe of Dan (2008) p.5. Taylor was heavily influenced by the Evangelical Revival and although from a family where Christianity was actively practised he experienced his Evangelical conversion under Methodist preachingThe earliest source available is Adam Taylor (1818 and 1820). Other records may exist in but as the detail is not central to this thesis I have not persued them.. As he developed in his ministerial gifting he became under some pressure from leaders within Methodism to enter Ministry as one of Wesley's travelling preachersTaylor, The New Connexion (1818) p.70; Taylor, Memoirs of the Rev. Dan Taylor (1820) p.9. There were in Taylor's mind some areas of doctrine and practise that sat uncomfortably with him. Principally it was the matter of authorityTaylor, Memoirs of the Rev. Dan Taylor (1820) p.9 that he felt prevented him from entering into the ministry with the Methodists. He seceded from Methodism and with four other like minded people formed a group with Taylor as the principle preacher. They commenced with open air meetings but they found that the weather was not conducive. Eventually the group settled in a house in WadsworthTaylor, The New Connexion (1818) p.71 suggests a date of September to October 1762. The registration would have been with the local Bishop. Records may exists for this registration at the Wakefield Public Records Office or at the national archive.. Taylor hints that their aim was to bring the Evangelical message of conversion
A. Taylor (1818), The New Connexion, p.71Though the prospect was very discouraging, the country excessively wild, and the inhabitants very rough and unpolished, he determined, after a short trial, to make an attempt to introduce the gospel among them; ...
 This is the only reference Adam Taylor makes about any evangelistic or church planting strategy involved in the establishment of Dan Taylor's first church. Adam Taylor is concerned with the development of the theological identity of both Dan Taylor and the New ConnexionThis is my observation, is this enough evidence or do I need to devote a little section to the analysis of Adam Taylor's two histories.. He moves on immediately to the discussions about their theological distinctives and their practice as a worshipping community. Taylor and his team soon turned their attention to the matter of Baptism. Having thoroughly investigated the arguments both for and against infant baptism he became convinced that baptism by immersion was a New Testament practise and sought Baptism from nearby Baptist Churches. Taylor was quite open about his Armenian theology and, unfortunately for him, all the Baptist churches near by were Calvinist in doctrine. They refused to Baptise him but referred him to the General Baptist Churches. Although General Baptist Churches had been in existence for over a century they were a new discovery for TaylorIs it proper here for me to assume that my audience have a good grasp of Baptist history, or should I provide a more detailed sketch?. His intention was to travel to Lincolnshire to be baptised by a General Baptist minister he had been told about. Travelling in the middle of winter he and a companion got lost, found themselves in a flooded field, and spent the night on a haystackTaylor (1920), p.12. They discovered that they were in Gamston, Nottinghamshire and that there was a General Baptist Chapel near by. After three days and some discussion with the church Dan Taylor was baptised in the local river.Taylor (1920), p.13.
Notes Note: These are secondary sources. To evidence these from primary sources you need to know if Dan Taylor's Diaries and letters are available. The Angus Library might contain some. Rinaldi ch2 foot 13 should read p. 70
Questions Can Adam Taylor be considered a suitible primary source?I'm not convinced that usin Adam Tayor is enough. In what ways did the rise of science and reason in the enlightenment affect the New Connexion way of thinking? The hallmarks of the enlightenment were the philosophical, scientific, and rational attitudes as well as the freedom from superstition, and the belief in religious tolerance"Enlightenment" A Dictionary of World History. Oxford University Press, 2000. Oxford Reference On line. Oxford University Press.. What extent did fear play in general life during periods of urbanisation? It is evident that fear played a role in the Evangelical Revival. The sermon "Sinners in the hands of angry God" played upon that fear (Edwards 1741, although this is an example from America, I am sure it won't be too hard to find some examples from the UK). Robert Peel introduced the Metropolitan Police Force in 1829 (with all cities being encouraged to form their own police forces by 1835).