Forged in Nova Scotia's First and Second Great Awakenings under the guidance of populist preachers - later called "Fathers" - the Maritime Calvinistic Baptist tradition was a vibrant evangelical force. Into Deep Waters challenges the prevailing notion that formalization of evangelical groups in early-nineteenth century Canada led to spiritual decline, arguing that the movement maintained its vital spirituality even after denominational structures were put in place.

Maritime Calvinistic Baptist piety emerged from a fusion of revivalism and conversion, and introduced dramatic baptisms by immersion. Rapid Baptist growth was one force leading Anglicans, Methodists, and Presbyterians to initiate a spiritual polemical exchange over baptism. By examining the lives and work of six Baptist preachers and theologians, Into Deep Waters illuminates the ways in which the second generation of Baptist preachers not only defended their tradition in lively debates but argued for a broadly based understanding of their spirituality and ministry, rooted in the practice of the Fathers. In an age when denominational identities in North America are often portrayed as ineffectual, Into Deep Waters is a timely reminder that religious traditions can adapt, change, and inspire renewal.