The Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon (French: Union des Églises Baptistes du Cameroun) is a Baptist Christian denomination in Cameroon. It is affiliated with the Baptist World Alliance. The headquarters is in Douala.
History
The Union has its origins in a British mission of the Baptist Missionary Society in Bimbia in 1843, led by the Jamaican missionary Joseph Merrick.[1][2][3] In 1845, the English missionary Alfred Saker and his wife arrived in Douala.[4] In 1849, Saker founded Bethel Baptist Church.[5] In 1886, after the expulsion of the Baptist Missionary Society by the Germans, mission work was transferred to the Basel Mission.[6] In 1917, the administration of the mission was taken over by the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society.[7] In 1931, the mission was taken over by the North American Baptist Conference.[8] In 1952, the Union of Baptist Churches of Cameroon was formally founded.[9][10] In 1957, it became autonomous of the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society.[11] According to a census published by the association in 2023, it claimed 525 churches and 80,000 members.[12]
Schools
It has 19 primary schools, 3 secondary schools.[13]
It also has 4 professional training institutes.[14]
It has 2 affiliated theological institutes.[15]
Health Services
It has 4 hospitals and 16 health centers.[16]