In the early 17th century, Baptists in England developed along two different theologies. The General Baptists were so-called because they held the General Atonement. The General view of the atonement is that Christ in His death undertook to make possible the salvation of all men who would believe. This position is identified with Arminianism. Early General Baptist leaders included John Smyth and Thomas Helwys. The Particular Baptists were so-called because they held the Particular Atonement. The Particular view of the atonement is that Christ in His death undertook to save particular individuals, usually referred to as the elect. This position is often identified with Calvinism. Some early Particular Baptist leaders included Benjamin Keach, Hanserd Knollys, and William Kiffin. Present day Strict Baptists of England are descendants of the Particular Baptists. Sometimes they are referred to as Strict and Particular Baptists. The terminology "strict" refers to the strict or closed position they held on membership and communion. The majority of early Particular Baptists rejected open membership and open communion. One notable exception was the author of Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan. Over the 18th century, General Baptists lapsed into theological liberalism and practically disappeared from the scene in England. During this same period, the Particular Baptists moved toward extreme doctrinal conservatism, which some have described as hyper-Calvinism and Antinomianism. In 1785, Andrew Fuller (1754-1815) published The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation. This helped turn many Particular Baptists toward a new evangelicalism that was dubbed "Fullerism," and would lead to eventual division among the Particular Baptists of England. The "Fullerites" are probably best represented by Fuller and William Carey (1761-1834), Baptist missionary to India. The leading spokesman for strict Calvinism was John Gill (1696-1771), perhaps best known for his Exposition of the Whole Bible, the only commentary to comment on every verse of the Bible. Among the "Fuller strain" of Particular Baptists, Calvinism declined and the practice of open communion grew. In 1891, most of the remaining General Baptists merged with the Particular Baptists in the Baptist Union of Great Britain (formed 1813). The Old Baptist Union represents General Baptists that did not participate.
Strict Baptists represent the strain of Particular Baptists that stayed on the "hyper-Calvinistic" course, maintained the practice of strict or closed communion, and remained aloof from the Baptist Union of 1813. They are roughly equivalent to the Primitive Baptists of America. Leaders among them include William Gadsby (1773-1844), whose A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship is still in use among their churches today, John Warburton (1776-1857), John Kershaw (1792-1870), and J. C. Philpot (1802-1869). Having no central organization or rallying point, Strict Baptists were nicknamed based on the newspapers they supported - Christian Pathway Strict Baptists, Earthen Vessel Strict Baptists, Gospel Herald Strict Baptists, and Gospel Standard Strict Baptists. Earthen Vessel, Gospel Herald and other Strict Baptists united in what would later become the Grace Baptist Assembly (founded 1980 as a merger of the Strict Baptist Assembly and the Assembly of baptised churches). The Grace Baptist Assembly churches represent a modification of Strict Baptists close to the "Fullerism" of the 18th century. These churches additionally meet together in three regional associations - Association of Grace Baptist Churches (East Anglia), Association of Grace Baptist Churches (East Midlands), Association of Grace Baptist Churches (South East) - and one fellowship - the Fellowship of Northern Particular Baptist Churches. The Gospel Standard Strict Baptists, remains the closest to the roots of the movement, both theologically and practically. Most Strict Baptists do not own a TV, go to the movies, or listen to modern music. They stand faithful in their opposition to Fuller's modified Calvinism, open membership and open communion. At times, Gospel Standard Strict Baptists have been called Gadsbyites after Mr. William Gadsby. In recent times, B. A. Ramsbottom has been an outstanding leader among the Strict Baptists, serving as editor of the Gospel Standard magazine since 1971.
In 1995, the Grace Baptist Assembly had over 10,000 members in about 260 churches. The Gospel Standard Strict Baptists had 6400 members in 156 churches in the British Isles, plus 3 churches in the United States.
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