The Association was established in 1871 as the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches (MASBC), an association of 23 Strict Baptist churches. John Stevens, a Baptist minister in London, was noted for his influence in the formation of the association, which was motivated by concern to maintain clear
Calvinist doctrines. The name "Strict" represented the position that the churches had on a strict or
closed communion (also known at the Lord's Table), whereby the churches required all those taking part in this ordinance to be
baptised by immersion. The name "Strict" was, however, often misunderstood and gave the wrong impression to those outside of the churches, and so they later became known as "Grace Baptist" churches. This was reflected in the association's change of name to the current form. ==See also==