Abstract
The Spiritual Baptists are a Fundamentalist Protestant group with congregations in Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St. Vincent, Venezuela, Guyana and New York City. Earlier studies, notably those of Simpson (1970) and Henney (1974) referred to them as “Shakers,” an appellation they neither use nor appreciate. Members of the faith refer to one another as “Brother” or “Sister” or more generally as “the Baptists.” In Trinidad, some Spiritual Baptists are associated with Xango worship and both outside observers and Trinidadian alike have confused Baptists with the African cult. This is not entirely accurate as many Baptists have no connections with Xango and actively oppose African elements within their faith. Some feel that the religion, in its purest most orthodox form, is to be found in St. Vincent where there is no organized Xango cult and religious services have much in common with 19th century Methodism. Twenty-two of my Baptist informants migrated from St. Vincent at the turn of the century and none are presently involved in Xango worship.