Why Knox? (Bold Like Knox but with More Water Involved)

We’re often asked: Why Knox? Isn’t John Knox the founder of Presbyterianism?

It’s a fair question and one we’re eager to answer because our church name points to a rich and meaningful heritage.

Yes, John Knox is historically seen as the father of Presbyterianism. But our choice to name our church Knox is not about denominational alignment; it’s about theological and spiritual legacy.

Knox stood boldly in his time, calling a compromised church and a corrupt culture back to the Word of God. His was a prophetic ministry: he denounced idols, feared no man, prayed with intensity, and preached with clarity and courage. He was not perfect, but he was a man of conviction, strength, and deep longing for his land to be filled with the glory of God through the Gospel. These are qualities we admire and aspire to.

Though we are not Presbyterian, we share much of the same theological foundation. In fact, the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession—the confession we hold to—was intentionally modelled after the Westminster Confession of Faith. The key differences lie in areas like baptism and church polity, where we believe the 1689 offers a more biblically faithful expression. But the structure, language, and theological depth of the Westminster Confession remain part of our spiritual ancestry.

That connection matters. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones once argued that the spirit of Knox—his reforming zeal and gospel-centred courage—was a key influence on the Puritan movement, which in turn laid the groundwork for the rise of the early Baptists. In that sense, there is a historical and theological continuity between Knox’s legacy and our own identity as a Reformed Baptist church.

So we are Knox Baptist Church, not because we are a hybrid of Presbyterians and Baptists, but because we are gladly part of the same stream of gospel reformation that began with men like John Knox. We honour his legacy not by copying his model in every detail but by embodying the same boldness, prayerfulness, and commitment to God’s Word in our time.

May God use us in our city and country as He used Knox in his.

Nino Marques