The Baptist Union of Wales, abbreviated BUW (Welsh: Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru; UBC), is a Baptist denomination in Wales, United Kingdom. The Union is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance, the European Baptist Federation, the Free Church Federation, the Churches Together in Wales. The Baptist Union of Wales' headquarters is located in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire.
History Early Welsh Baptist ministers
The Puritan minister Hugh Evans was the first minister to preach Baptist doctrines in Wales, around 1646, in the parishes of Llan-hir, Cefnllys, Nantmel, and Llanddewi Ystradenny, as well as in districts across the upper Wye Valley in Breconshire. William H. Brackney, Historical Dictionary of the Baptists, Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2021, p. 623 In 1649, John Myles and Thomas Proud were appointed ministers at Ilston parish, before emigrating to Swansea, Massachusetts in 1663. Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 108 Myles and Proud were connected to the Particular Baptists in London. In 1650, three Baptist churches held the first Baptist General Assembly in Wales. A national body was organized in 1866. Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 109
Membership
According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 8,105 members and 315 churches. Baptist World Alliance, Members, baptistworld.org, USA, retrieved May 5, 2023
See also Nonconformism Religion in Wales
References
External links Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru/Baptist Union of Wales - official Web Site Shropshire Baptist History Introduction