[Josh Painter]

Jefferson used the phrase in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists of Connecticut, IIRC. They had written him in 1801 to express their fears that a state religion would be adopted, and they would be persecuted as a consequence. Jefferson’s letter and the use of the phrase “a wall of separation” was intended solely to reassure the Baptists that they had nothing to fear, because no official state religion would ever be declared.

- JP

[svcw]

Thanks. I am going with I was partly correct. ,-)

[JaguarXKE]

Jefferson used the phrase in an 1802 letter to the Danbury Baptists of Connecticut, IIRC. They had written him in 1801 to express their fears that a state religion would be adopted, and they would be persecuted as a consequence. Jefferson’s letter and the use of the phrase “a wall of separation” was intended solely to reassure the Baptists that they had nothing to fear, because no official state religion would ever be declared.

Thank you!