Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland

The Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland (ABC,ABCi and ABCI) is a Baptist Christian denomination based in Ireland. It is a group of 121 autonomous Baptist churches working together in fellowship and evangelism, training and caring ministries. The Association only acts on behalf of the churches for the work which the churches have agreed to do together.

History

Baptist work was started in Ireland by the middle of the 17th century. By 1653, there were 10 churches (9 in the south and 1 in the north). The Irish Baptist Association was organised in 1862, and was replaced by the Baptist Union of Ireland in 1895. Irish Baptists initially had a close relationship with the English Baptists. But desire for independence caused the Irish Baptists to follow their own path and they set up the Union in 1895. Initially there were 15 churches. They supported Charles Spurgeon during the Downgrade Controversy that raged in the Baptist Union of Great Britain. The Union returned to its original name of the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland in 1999 highlighting that they are an association of churches of like mind which seek to work and fellowship together.