This is the twelfth and final in a series of articles on the history of OFWBs in recognition of the four hundredth anniversary of the founding of the first General Baptist Church in England in 1611. As Original Free Will Baptists we are heirs of this important movement in Baptist history and it is fitting that we should celebrate our heritage in this Quadricentennial year.
In an earlier article by Dr. Michael Pelt on Nineteen Century Leaders in the Original Free Will Baptist Church (TFWB, May 2011), the contribution of Joseph Parker in the founding of early Free Will Baptist churches (then General Baptist) was duly noted. In fact, the three oldest Free Will Baptist churches in North Carolina that are still in existence were probably founded by Joseph Parker. Truly he may be referred to as one of the “fathers” of the Free Will Baptist denomination.
A trunk, found in the attic of the home of the late Miles and Clarkie Radford of the Rains Crossroads Community, Johnston County, NC, contained among other items of historical interest, a number of issues of The Free Will Baptist
