The N.Z. Baptist as an agent of Denominational Identity 1874-1960

Abstract

The New Zealand Baptist is the oldest continuously running religious
periodical in New Zealand. Its place in the history and development
of denominational life is profound. This article traces the impact and
editorial policies of the newspaper from its beginnings in a scattered,
sparsely populated colony to its role in an increasingly confident
Baptist community following gthe second world war. In this time it
established itself as a key arbiter of Baptist identity. By the end of the
period this was changing, with the New Zealand Baptist becoming
more a mirror to the denomination than a window into its world.