Baptist successionism (also known as "Baptist perpetuity") is one of several theories on the origin and continuation of Baptist churches. The tenet of the theory is that there has been an unbroken chain of churches since the days of
John the Baptist, who baptized
Christ, which have held similar beliefs (though not always the name) of current
Baptists. Ancient
anti-paedobaptist groups, such as the
Montanists,
Paulicians,
Cathari,
Waldenses,
Albigenses, and
Anabaptists, have been among those viewed by Baptist successionists as the predecessors of modern-day Baptists.