Benjamin Keach

Benjamin Keach was born in Buckinghamshire and trained as a tailor. He began preaching among the Baptists as a young man. In 1664 he was tried for The Child's Instructor, a small book teaching children the faith, and was fined and set in the pillory.

In 1668 he moved to London and became pastor of the Baptist church at Horsleydown, Southwark, which he served until his death. He was one of the first to bring hymn singing into Baptist worship, against strong opposition, and he wrote widely: allegories, books on the figures of speech in Scripture, and the catechism that bears his name.

He signed the 1689 Baptist Confession, and in the same year wrote The Gospel Minister's Maintenance Vindicated, arguing that churches should support their pastors. The congregation he led was later pastored by John Gill and, in the 1800s, by Charles Spurgeon.