Thomas Helwys | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1575 |
| Died | c. 1616 Newgate Prison, London, England |
| Alma mater | Gray's Inn |
| Occupation | Pastor |
| Spouse | Joan Ashmore |
| Children | 7 |
Thomas Helwys (c. 1575 – c. 1616),[1] an English minister, was one of the joint founders, with John Smyth, of the General Baptist denomination. In the early 17th century, Helwys was the principal formulator of a demand that the church and the state be kept separate in matters of law, so that individuals might have a freedom of religious conscience. He was an advocate of religious liberty at a time when to hold to such views could be dangerous. He died in prison as a consequence of the religious persecution of Protestant Dissenters under King James I.[1]