Francis Johnson and the English Separatist Influence

Francis Johnson and the English Separatist Influence is the first thorough treatment of Francis Johnson as the central focus of an academic work. Johnson (1562-1618) was the pastor of the English Separatist Ancient Church in London and Amsterdam from 1592-1618. Once referred to as the “Bishop of Brownism” by one of his contemporaries, Johnson’s theological and practical influence on Christian traditions as diverse as the Baptists, Congregationalists, and English Independents demonstrated the wide breadth of English Separatism’s formative influence. This very human English Separatist leader influenced a number of Christian movements in the dynamic context of early seventeenth century Amsterdam. His example encouraged John Smyth, Johnson’s Cambridge pupil, and Smyth’s associate John Robinson, pastor to the Pilgrims, to separate from the Established Church and seek sanctuary in Amsterdam.

Scott Culpepper currently serves as associate professor of history at Dordt College. Dr. Culpepper earned his Ph.D. at Baylor University. He also received a Master of Arts in History at Northwestern State University, a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in historical and theological studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Religious Education at Louisiana College. Dr. Culpepper’s teaching and research interests are British and European history, particularly Early Modern Europe, and the history of Christianity. He is the author of Francis Johnson and the English Separatist Influence: The Bishop of Brownism’s Life, Ministry, and Controversies (Mercer University Press, 2011). Dr. Culpepper has also contributed articles to The Encyclopedia of Christian Civilization and written book reviews for Pro Rege, the American Baptist Historical Quarterly and Fides et Historia. He was twice honored by the student body of Louisiana College with the Professor of the Year award. Dr. Culpepper resides in Iowa with his wife Ginger and their three children.