A Sketch of the Early History
of the Primitive Baptists in the State of Florida
Although Florida was discovered by explorers in the early 1500's, its settlement was much later than many of the eastern and southern states. Florida was a territory of Spain until 1819, when it was purchased by the United States. Florida became the 27th State in 1845. William D. Moseley was the first Governor. The first Baptist church organized in Florida, Pigeon Creek, was organized January 7, 1821, in Nassau County, near Callahan. It was a Primitive Baptist Church in faith and practice. It first united with the Piedmont Association, which was organized in 1815. It was represented in the Suwannee River Primitive Baptist Association as late as 1849, AFTER the separation caused by the introduction of the modern mission system, which took place in 1845. Later, this church joined the St. Marys River Primitive Baptist Association.
By 1835 there were at least eight Baptist churches in Florida, who formed the Suwannee Associatio. It was organized at Providence Church, in Columbia County, on September 26, 1835, with eight churches, viz., Bethlehem, Sardis, Ebenezer, Indian Springs, Providence, New River, Orange, and Elizabeth.
The Mount Enon Association was organized in central Florida in 1871. The St. Marys River Association was organized with four churches, in 1878. The San Pedro Association was organized in 1885. The Satilla Association was organized in 1889. The Indian River Association was organized in about 1889. The Pilgrim's Rest Association was organized in south Florida in about 1904. There have also been a number of churches in Florida which were members of Associations in Georgia and Alabama, including the Piedmont, and Ochlocknee, which contained many very early churches.
