We are often accused of being followers of Alexander Campbell or it is said that he started the churches of Christ. There were congregations of the churches of Christ hundreds of years before Alexander Campbell.
1. ARE WE CAMPBELLITES?
Did Alexander Campbell start the
churches of Christ?
Did the churches of Christ start in
America in the 1820's?
2. Introduction
There are many who misunderstand:
What we believe about salvation
What we believe about worship
When churches of Christ began
Are we Campbellites?
Did Alexander Campbell start the movement
that began the churches of Christ?
3. What we know about the church:
Prophesied
Daniel 2:44; Matthew 16:18; Acts 1:6-8
Started on Pentecost
Acts 2:1-47
Some would fall away
Revelation 2:4-5
4. Let's work back from Campbell
Alexander Campbell
Born – 1788
Came to America – 1809
Was baptized by Mathias Luce – 1812
Joined Barton W. Stone and others preaching the
message of the restoration movement – 1832
7. 1798
William Rogers and his father, Nathaniel, were restoration
preachers in Cane Ridge, KY 10 years before Alexander
Campbell came to America.
8. 1792 James O'Kelley
James O'Kelly Of Durham, North Carolina
James O’Kelly was a follower of
Wesleyism - or Methodism.
On December 25, 1792 he walked out of the
Methodist conference with about 1/2 of
those in attendance. O’Kelly and his
followers kept the Methodist name for
another 5 or 6 years calling themselves,
“The Republican Methodists.”
“Republican” meant “freedom," hence
"Free" Methodists. They were free to
pursue Bible truths.
10. Kircaldy Church Of Christ
1784-Present
Robert Cannichael and Archibald McLean first met
when they were members of the Glasite church in
Glasgow. In the early 1760's Robert Carmichael
had been a minister in the Anti-Burgher section of
the Secession church in Coupar Angus until he
adopted the views of John Glas.
12. Tottlebank church of Christ
Below, William Rawlinson’s farm house at Tottlebank,
where the congregation first met in about 1669.
13. This booke is for the use ofThis booke is for the use of
that Church of Christ inthat Church of Christ in
Broughton furnessfell andBroughton furnessfell and
Cartmell whereof Mr.Cartmell whereof Mr.
Gabrill Camelford isGabrill Camelford is
Teachinge ElderTeachinge Elder
The 18The 18thth
day of ye sixthday of ye sixth
month called August 1669month called August 1669
A church of Christ wasA church of Christ was
formed in order and sateformed in order and sate
down together in thedown together in the
fellowship and order of yefellowship and order of ye
Gospel of Jesus Christ.Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Att the house of WilliamAtt the house of William
Rawlinson off Totle-bankeRawlinson off Totle-banke
in Coulton in furness.in Coulton in furness.
The Ledger
14. The outdoor baptismal pool, now bricked would have appeared
originally as a pond and being outside the building would not have
raised suspicion. The Keith Sisman is pictured in the pool with the
meeting house behind.
17. Photograph of text from Featly's 1646 edition, taken from page 20 of the Dippers Dipt.
Anglican clergyman, Dr Daniel Featly, (who was one of the translators of the King
James@Bible) wrote in 1645 of the Churches of Christ meeting in London and
elsewhere in his work the 'Dippers Dipt', took those congregations back to 1525 when
he quotes from them "That baptism ought to be received by none, but such as can
give a good account of their faith; and in case any have been baptized in their infancy,
that they ought to he re-baptized after they come to years of discretion, before they
are to be admitted to the Church of Christ." These churches in the 1600s were in
communication with other churches of Christ in America, nearly two hundred years
before Campbell!
18. 1612
Edward Wightman's wife
Francis and their children
left Lichfield and lived in
London where they
attended the church of
Christ meeting at White
Alley, Newgate. From
there his family moved to
Rhode Island, America
where they continued in
the true faith.
19. The Hill Cliff congregation is said to have had a full time preacher
and evangelist in 1594, but his name is unknown. Christians in
Cromwell’s army worshiped at the chapel in 1646, again showing
that it existed in the seventeenth century. Later the church took on
Baptist doctrine as did other similar congregations.
Hill Cliffe is possibly the oldest surviving congregation in Britain.
20. James Bainham, by profession a barrister, preached at
the Bow Lane (London) Church of Christ, was after
torture burned for preaching the gospel, in 1532.
21. Pre 1517 Building dates - 1691
CHESTERTOWN (modern Chesterton),
Cambridge congregation. It was located in
what is now a suburb of Cambridge.
Interesting on six accounts:
1/ They were autonomous.
2/ They practiced baptism by immersion for
remission of sins.
3/ They met prior to the continental Anabaptists
who date their appearance to January 21,
1525.
4/ They were pre-Reformation 1517.
5/ They were pre-English separation (1596).
6/ They saw themselves as the true Church of
Christ, not a denomination.
22. Always Existed?
It is believed by many that there have always
been congregations of the churches of Christ.
Because of hardship and persecution many
existed in secret.
In every generation there were those who wanted
to just follow the Bible.
Today, that is what we must seek to do.
23. Our Plea
Study the church of the New Testament and:
Believe what they believed,
Worship as they worshiped,
Teach what they taught,
And you will be a New Testament Christian - - -
Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else!