West Virginia Baptists believe in the Bible as their main guide, baptism by immersion, freedom for each church to run itself, and religious liberty. The first Baptist church in the state started in the 1740s in the Eastern Panhandle. Leaders such as John Corbly and John Sutton helped spread Baptist churches westward.

By 1800, there were 16 Baptist churches in the area. Because towns were far apart, churches formed local groups called associations to support one another. Slavery caused a split between Northern and Southern Baptists before and during the Civil War, but by 1869, most West Virginia Baptists had united again.

The number of churches grew quickly after the war—reaching 800 by the 1950s. However, membership has declined since then. In 2024, the West Virginia Baptist Convention had 363 churches with about 70,000 members, and Southern Baptists had 213 churches with over 17,000 members.

Baptists have focused on spreading their faith, helping rural communities, and supporting education. They also played a role in movements such as banning alcohol and reaching out to immigrants in coal towns. Many Baptist leaders have served in government, including Senator Robert Byrd and Governor/Senator Jim Justice.