Page "Roger Williams (theologian)" Paragraph 24

Williams had himself baptized by Ezekiel Holliman in late 1638.

Thus was constituted a church which still survives as the First Baptist Church in America.

A few years later, John Clarke, Williams ’ compatriot in the cause of religious freedom in the New World, established the First Baptist Church in Newport, Rhode Island.

In 1847 the Newport church suddenly maintained that it was the first Baptist church in America, but virtually all historians have dismissed this claim.

If nothing else, Roger Williams had gathered and resigned from the Providence church before the town of Newport was even founded.

Still, both Roger Williams and John Clarke are variously credited as being the founder of the Baptist faith in America.