Seventh Day Baptists are a group of Protestant Christians who are similar to other Baptists but worship on Saturday instead of Sunday. They believe the Bible teaches that Saturday is the true Sabbath, as shown by Jesus’ example.

The group began in England in 1650 and came to America in 1671, starting their first U.S. church in Rhode Island. Over time, they spread across the country, reaching the West Coast by 1900. They are known for their mission work, community involvement, and support for education.

One of their schools, Salem College (now Salem University), was founded in West Virginia, where the Salem church (started in 1792) became an important center for the faith. From West Virginia, members helped spread their beliefs to other states.

Today, there are about 5,000 Seventh Day Baptists in the U.S. and Canada, and around 45,000 worldwide. West Virginia has three churches, all in Doddridge and Harrison counties. A well-known member from the state was U.S. Senator Jennings Randolph.