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he {{cleanup}}{{otheruses}}No one knows for certain when the Baptists set foot on Florida soil, but historical evidence indicates that some of the first efforts Baptists in Florida were Southern slaves who had escaped to establish promised freedom under Spanish rule (1783-1821). Many early settlers entered the state by boat, which resulted in a diverse geographical distribution. Along the coast, they came to Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Key West, Tampa and Pensacola. Although some form of Christian witness preaching and organized worship may have occurred earlier, the first established Baptist church in Florida was the Pigeon Creek Baptist Church. It was organized on January 7, 1821, in Nassau County near what came to be known as is now Callahan. The Spanish flag still waved over Florida . Subsequently Baptist churches were made not by Baptistsestablished at Campbellton and Sardis in 1825, but by Spanish Roman Catholics and French Hugenotsin Jefferson and Leon Counties in 1829.

Spanish explorers had made several attempts at establishing some kind During the 1830's ten churches organized. In the 1840's, the rate of foothold on church starts increased rapidly with 36 churches being organized by the Florida peninsula between 1513 and 1560, and although all end of them were abortive1849. By 1854, when the Spanish still maintained that Florida belonged Baptist State Convention was organized, 19 more had been added to themthe list. During much of The churches organized in the 1840's and 1850's reflected the 17th Century, increase in the Spanish influence broadened and their missionary endeavors reached into three groups population of Indians: the Timucuans, the Guales, new state and the Appalachees. By 1707, geographical spread of settlers down the Spanish Catholic missionaries began to lose influence among center of the Indians state and along coastal areas as far south as the power and control of Spain diminished in FloridaKey West.

Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris, The Florida Baptist State Convention was ceded to England in 1763 and was under British domination until 1783. During the twenty years of English ruleorganized November 20th, the Anglican Church was established1854, and Catholicism survived, though greatly weakened. In 1783by 17 delegates meeting in Madison, England ceded Florida back to Spain, and almost all the English settlers departed. However, Spanish influence in the territory was limited to fortified colonies located in Pensacola and Sthome of R. AugustineJ. While across the remainder of the territoryMays, the Calusas and Seminole Indians thrived and controlled the land. In an effort to gain greater control of the territory, the Spanish offered land to settlers from the neighboring Southern stateswho was elected president. As these American settlers moved into the territoryBy this time, they there were eager to see three associations: Florida become a state. With the Treaty of 1819, the Territory of West Florida was formally ceded to the United Statesand Alachua.

No one knows for certain when the Baptists set foot on Florida soil, but historical evidence indicates that some of the first Baptists in Florida were Southern slaves who had escaped to promised freedom under Spanish rule (1783{{rel-1821). Many early settlers entered the state by boat, which resulted in a diverse geographical distribution. Along the coast, they came to Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Key West, Tampa and Pensacola. Although some preaching and organized worship may have occurred earlier, the first established Baptist church in Florida was the Pigeon Creek Baptist Church. It was organized on January 7, 1821, in Nassau County near what is now Callahan. The Spanish flag still waved over Florida. Subsequently Baptist churches were established at Campbellton and Sardis in 1825, and in Jefferson and Leon Counties in 1829.stub}}

During the 1830's ten churches organized. In the 1840's, the rate of church starts increased rapidly with 36 churches being organized by the end of 1849. By 1854, when the Florida ==See also==*[[:Category:Baptist State Convention was organized, 19 more had been added to the list. The churches organized in the 1840's and 1850's reflected the increase in the population of the new state and the geographical spread of settlers down the center of the state and along coastal areas as far south as Key West.]]*[[:Category:Baptists]]

The Florida Baptist State Convention was organized November 20th, 1854, by 17 delegates meeting in Madison, Florida, in the home of R. J. Mays, who was elected president. By this time, there were three associations[[Category: Florida, West Florida and Alachua.Religion]]