Old Regular Baptist
Encyclopedia
The Old Regular Baptists are an American
Christian denomination based primarily in the Appalachia
n region of the United States.
s merged with the Separate Baptist
s near the beginning of 19th century. The party names were dropped in favor of United Baptist
s. The use of the name "Regular" has persisted among some Baptist groups, particularly among primitivistic sects that reject modern methods, including missionary and educational auxiliaries for the churches. Most Old Regular Baptists can be traced back to the New Salem Association of United Baptists (org. in eastern Kentucky
in 1825). The name was changed to "Regular United" in 1854, to "Regular Primitive" in 1870, to "Regular Baptist" in 1871 and then in 1892 to "Old Regular." The minutes of New Salem Association in 1892 indicate that they feared the extremism of some predestinarians that tended toward teaching God is the author of sin. Those associations and churches that do not trace their lineage through the New Salem, such as Mountain, Mud River, Twin Creek and others, along with some churches that are in the larger associations, may have originated in the North District Association; or else like the Mud River churches originated from the Particular Baptist. Yet others have left Primitive Baptist and United Baptist Associations and found a home among the Old Regular Baptist. The word "old" was added to Regular Baptist soon after many Regular Baptist had joined and or began to correspond with mission boards, this was done to distinguish the Old (or original) Regular Baptist from the New School Baptist that had emerged throughout the United States. Old Regular Baptists have had several divisions through the years. In the 1960s, a debate started over when everlasting (eternal) life began. Many Old Regular Baptist hold the same views as the Primitive Baptist [some historians consider the Old Regular Baptist a branch of the Primitive Baptist, that held to a stricter order but more liberal in doctrine, allowing for different views on the atonement]. While the doctrine of some Old Regular Baptist would be in harmony with the majority of Primitive Baptist today, others among the Regulars hold to a more modified Calvinism, this difference led to the light is life split that took place in the Union Association. This division soon spread to other associations brought on by requests sent to them from the Union Association, resulting in the isolation of the Mud River Association, and the formation of the Bethel Association, other associations like the New Salem, chose not to divide over this issue, often churches and associations and even Elders are distinguished by which side of this debate they are on, those that hold to the doctrine that an individual is first begotten or quickened into life at the start of their travail, are called the "hard shell side" of Old Regular Baptist or the Old School, [this appears to be the original view of the first Regular Baptist in America] those who hold that life starts at the end of their travail (repentance) are called the "soft shell side". Today the debate is still among the Old Regular Baptist along with when one receives faith, men and women's dress, the receiving of divorced members, the doctrinal differences over hope and knowledge. In the 1990s a debate arose in the Northern New Salem over one of its member churches use of fermented wine in communion [this also was the original Regular Baptist custom] vs. grape juice. A query was sent into the association by a sister church against the church that used wine, all evidence shows that the church that sent the query had not taken the proper steps according to Old Regular Baptist decorum. The Association then involved itself, failing to send the query back to the church that sent it, violated its own orders. This led to two member churches breaking fellowship with the Northern New Salem. The two member churches and one formed latter, lettered to the Original Mountain Liberty Association and was found by them to be orthodox and orderly and were dismissed to form the Sovereign Grace Association in 1997.
(in running water), the Lord's supper and feet washing
are held to be ordinances. Shouting is a frequent occurrence at an Old Regular meeting, particularly among the female membership. Conversion experiences may be a lengthy "process," beginning with an awakening to sin, through a period of conviction and travail of the soul, to repentance and belief.
and Virginia
border, although Old Regular Baptist churches exist as far north as Michigan and as far south as Florida and several churches still exist in the state of Washington. Currently there are seventeen local associations: New Salem, Northern New Salem, Old Friendship, Old Indian Bottom, Philadelphia, Sardis, Union, Bethel, Friendship, Indian Bottom, Mountain, Mountain II, Mud River, Original Mountain Liberty, Solid Rock, Sovereign Grace, and Thornton Union. The first seven on the list maintain "correspondence" with one another, while the remaining ten exhibit various correspondence patterns, including three that have correspondence with the Primitive Baptists and two with the United Baptists. These seventeen associations and independent bodies [not lettered to an association] contain over 350 churches with over 10,000 members. The folk singer Jean Ritchie
was a member of the Old Regular Baptists in Kentucky.
Current membership among associations:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Christian denomination based primarily in the Appalachia
Appalachia
Appalachia is a term used to describe a cultural region in the eastern United States that stretches from the Southern Tier of New York state to northern Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. While the Appalachian Mountains stretch from Belle Isle in Canada to Cheaha Mountain in the U.S...
n region of the United States.
History
Most Regular BaptistRegular Baptist
Regular Baptists are a diverse group of Baptists in the United States and Canada. The presence of the modifier "Regular" in their names attests to the strong influence of the early Regular Baptists on the growth of Baptists in North America. Two strains of Baptists emigrated from England to America...
s merged with the Separate Baptist
Separate Baptist
The Separate Baptists were an 18th century group of Baptists in the United States, primarily in the South, that grew out of the Great Awakening....
s near the beginning of 19th century. The party names were dropped in favor of United Baptist
United Baptist
United Baptist is name of several diverse Baptist groups of Protestant Christianity in the United States and Canada.-History:The name "United Baptist" appears to have arisen from two separate unions of Baptist groups: the union of Regular Baptists and Separate Baptists in Kentucky, Virginia, and...
s. The use of the name "Regular" has persisted among some Baptist groups, particularly among primitivistic sects that reject modern methods, including missionary and educational auxiliaries for the churches. Most Old Regular Baptists can be traced back to the New Salem Association of United Baptists (org. in eastern Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1825). The name was changed to "Regular United" in 1854, to "Regular Primitive" in 1870, to "Regular Baptist" in 1871 and then in 1892 to "Old Regular." The minutes of New Salem Association in 1892 indicate that they feared the extremism of some predestinarians that tended toward teaching God is the author of sin. Those associations and churches that do not trace their lineage through the New Salem, such as Mountain, Mud River, Twin Creek and others, along with some churches that are in the larger associations, may have originated in the North District Association; or else like the Mud River churches originated from the Particular Baptist. Yet others have left Primitive Baptist and United Baptist Associations and found a home among the Old Regular Baptist. The word "old" was added to Regular Baptist soon after many Regular Baptist had joined and or began to correspond with mission boards, this was done to distinguish the Old (or original) Regular Baptist from the New School Baptist that had emerged throughout the United States. Old Regular Baptists have had several divisions through the years. In the 1960s, a debate started over when everlasting (eternal) life began. Many Old Regular Baptist hold the same views as the Primitive Baptist [some historians consider the Old Regular Baptist a branch of the Primitive Baptist, that held to a stricter order but more liberal in doctrine, allowing for different views on the atonement]. While the doctrine of some Old Regular Baptist would be in harmony with the majority of Primitive Baptist today, others among the Regulars hold to a more modified Calvinism, this difference led to the light is life split that took place in the Union Association. This division soon spread to other associations brought on by requests sent to them from the Union Association, resulting in the isolation of the Mud River Association, and the formation of the Bethel Association, other associations like the New Salem, chose not to divide over this issue, often churches and associations and even Elders are distinguished by which side of this debate they are on, those that hold to the doctrine that an individual is first begotten or quickened into life at the start of their travail, are called the "hard shell side" of Old Regular Baptist or the Old School, [this appears to be the original view of the first Regular Baptist in America] those who hold that life starts at the end of their travail (repentance) are called the "soft shell side". Today the debate is still among the Old Regular Baptist along with when one receives faith, men and women's dress, the receiving of divorced members, the doctrinal differences over hope and knowledge. In the 1990s a debate arose in the Northern New Salem over one of its member churches use of fermented wine in communion [this also was the original Regular Baptist custom] vs. grape juice. A query was sent into the association by a sister church against the church that used wine, all evidence shows that the church that sent the query had not taken the proper steps according to Old Regular Baptist decorum. The Association then involved itself, failing to send the query back to the church that sent it, violated its own orders. This led to two member churches breaking fellowship with the Northern New Salem. The two member churches and one formed latter, lettered to the Original Mountain Liberty Association and was found by them to be orthodox and orderly and were dismissed to form the Sovereign Grace Association in 1997.
Faith and Practice
The theology of the group is "election by grace", as stated in the scripture "By Grace are ye saved through faith." While all Old Regulars preach "election by grace" a difference of opinion exists among them concerning election and predestination. Today depending on which group you hear preach, their doctrine ranges from absolute predestination to man being a free moral agent. The majority of Old Regular Baptists hold to a doctrine that is between these extremes, with absolutism the smallest minority. Some churches and associations would be in doctrinal sympathy with the Old Line Primitive Baptist others would be closer to the United Baptist. Churches form local associations by which they fellowship with one another. This fellowship is formally maintained by the associations electing "correspondents" to attend the meetings of the other associations. Preachers are God-called, not trained by man, and unpaid, and preach "improvisational" (often chanted) sermons. BaptismBaptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
(in running water), the Lord's supper and feet washing
Feet washing
Foot washing or washing of feet is a religious rite observed as an ordinance by several Christian denominations. The name, and even the spelling, of this practice is not consistently established, being variously known as foot washing, washing the saints' feet, pedilavium, and mandatum.For some...
are held to be ordinances. Shouting is a frequent occurrence at an Old Regular meeting, particularly among the female membership. Conversion experiences may be a lengthy "process," beginning with an awakening to sin, through a period of conviction and travail of the soul, to repentance and belief.
Current status
The strength of Old Regular Baptists is in Appalachia, particularly along the KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
and Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
border, although Old Regular Baptist churches exist as far north as Michigan and as far south as Florida and several churches still exist in the state of Washington. Currently there are seventeen local associations: New Salem, Northern New Salem, Old Friendship, Old Indian Bottom, Philadelphia, Sardis, Union, Bethel, Friendship, Indian Bottom, Mountain, Mountain II, Mud River, Original Mountain Liberty, Solid Rock, Sovereign Grace, and Thornton Union. The first seven on the list maintain "correspondence" with one another, while the remaining ten exhibit various correspondence patterns, including three that have correspondence with the Primitive Baptists and two with the United Baptists. These seventeen associations and independent bodies [not lettered to an association] contain over 350 churches with over 10,000 members. The folk singer Jean Ritchie
Jean Ritchie
Jean Ritchie is an American folk singer, songwriter, and Appalachian dulcimer player.- Out of Kentucky :Abigail and Balis Ritchie of Viper, Kentucky had 14 children, and Jean was the youngest...
was a member of the Old Regular Baptists in Kentucky.
Current membership among associations:
| Association | Year | # of Churches | Membership | Organized | Dissvoled | Armed from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethel | 2010 | 6 | 134 | 1962 | Active | Union division |
| Cumberland | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1972 | 1982 | Thornton Union (Indian Creek churches) |
| Friendship | 2007 | 15 | 799 | 1917 | Active | Union (Pineville Churches) |
| Indian Bottom | 2009 | 47 | 1876 | 1896 | Active | Sandlick division |
| Indian Creek | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1972 | 1972 | Union churches |
| Kyova | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1924 | 1990's | New Salem |
| Little Dove | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1982 | 1992 | Original Mountain Liberty |
| Mountain | 2008 | 8 | 538 | 1836 | Active | North District |
| Mountain II | 2009 | 5 | 192 | 1836 | Active | Mountain division (1960) |
| Mountain Valley | N/A | N/A | N/A | 2002 | 2008 | Thornton Union division |
| Mud River | 2008 | 1 | 5 | 1888 | Not Active | Pocatalico |
| New Salem | 2009 | 55 | 1470 | 1825 | Active | Burning Springs |
| New Sulphur Springs | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1941 | 1947 | Friendship |
| Northern New Salem | 2009 | 24 | 560 | 1957 | Active | New Salem |
| Old Friendship | 2009 | 11 | 317 | 1917 | Active | Friendship division (1972) |
| Old Indian Bottom | 2009 | 15 | 149 | 1896 | Active | Indian Bottom division (1960) |
| Original Mountain Liberty | 2010 | 2 | 100 | 1973 | Active | Thornton Union |
| Philadelphia | 2009 | 5 | 93 | 1925 | Active | New Salem |
| Pineville | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1895 | 1917 | Elkhorn District division |
| Sardis | 2009 | 27 | 766 | 1893 | Active | Mates Creek division |
| Solid Rock | 2007 | 5 | 203 | 2000 | Active | Original Mountain Liberty division |
| Sovereign Grace | 2009 | 4 | 62 | 1998 | Active | Original Mountain Liberty |
| Thornton Union | 2009 | 6 | 601 | 1945 | Active | Union |
| Union | 2009 | 70 | 1500 | 1859 | Active | New Salem (Union Primitive division 1894) |
| Independent Churches | 2010 | 40 | 600 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Lined-Out Hymnody
One noted feature that has gained much attention to the Old Regular Baptists is their lined-out, non-instrumental, congregational hymnody. Old Regular Baptists: Lined-out Hymnody vol.1 and Songs of the Old Regular Baptists vol.2 by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings are notable in the folk music industry. Though Old Regular Baptists are not the only group to retain lined-out hymnody, theirs may be the purest, since it is the only form of singing used in their churches. Having said that, Gaelic-speaking congregations in the Scottish Highlands and Islands sing in exactly the same way (only in Gaelic). See Salm vols. 1 and 2, which has recordings from the Hebrides. According to Jeff Titon, "The leader sings the very first line, and the congregation joins in when they recognize the song. After that, the song proceeds line by line: the leader briefly chants a line alone, and then the group repeats the words but to a tune that is much longer and more elaborate than the leader's chant or lining tune." E. D. Thomas' Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1877) and Edward W. Billups' The Sweet Songster (1854) are two "words-only" hymn books preferred by these churches. Also The Baptist Song Book by Elder Bobby Scott Sr.External links
- Appalachian Music
- Blessed Hope Old Regular Baptist Church weekly worship services
- Historical Sketch
- History of Red Bush Old Regular Baptist Church
- Indian Bottom Association of Old Regular Baptists
- Information on Lined-Out Hymnody
- In the Good Old Fashioned Way
- Old Regular Baptist Research - ASU
- Old Regular Baptist Song Books
- Sovereign Grace Association of Old Regular Baptist
- Old Regular Baptist Association History
- Sardis Association Churches and locations