Fairwood Freewill Baptist Church

In the heart of Washington D.C., Fairwood Freewill Baptist Church stands as a testament to a rich history. Fairwood Freewill Baptist Church represents a branch of the broader Free Will Baptist denomination. This denomination traces its roots back to two distinct origins. The first, known as the Palmer movement, began in 1727 in Chowan, North Carolina with Paul Palmer. The second, the Randall movement, started in 1780 in New Durham, New Hampshire with Benjamin Randall. Both groups, though geographically separated, shared a common belief in free grace, free salvation, and free will. The northern Randall movement initially spread faster, reaching into the West and Southwest. However, a merger with the Northern Baptist denomination in 1910-1911 led to many churches and properties being absorbed. The remaining churches reorganized in 1916 in Pattonsburg, Missouri. Meanwhile, the southern Palmer movement remained unaffected by the merger. In 1935, these two branches finally united in Nashville, Tennessee, forming the National Association of Free Will Baptists. This association established a Treatise outlining the core doctrines that have guided Free Will Baptists for years. This document continues to serve as a unifying foundation for this denomination, which now encompasses thousands of churches across the United States and internationally. Fairwood Freewill Baptist Church embodies these principles, serving as a spiritual home for its community within the nation’s capital.