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 First
Baptist Church began with a four-week revival led by A. S. Petrey and
J. B. McKeehan. The result was 35 adults professing Christ and asking
for baptism. Several hundred people gathered on the bank of the North
Fork of the Kentucky River near the present Main Street Bridge for the
baptismal service on Sunday, March 31, 1909.
On Sunday evening, March 31, 1909, the church was organized. On April
4, the first pastor, G. F. Davisson, was called, A. J. Sturgill was
elected church clerk, and the first deacons were elected. The first
meeting was held in the courthouse. Later the church  moved
to the upper floor of the Lewis Wholesale Building. A. S. Petrey was
called to succeed G. F. Davisson, who had served as the first pastor.
With the help of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and much hard work
by the people, the first building was dedicated on April 25, 1915. The
church was well-equipped and contained the first indoor baptistry in
the area. The church was located on East Main Street at College Drive,
the present location of Hoover's Home Furnishings.
 On
April 10, 1938, the church voted to construct an annex of three floors
with an apartment on the third floor for the pastor. In 1956, definite
plans were made for a new church building. These plans culminated with
the deddication of the present church structure on Madison Street on
June 7, 1964. The total cost was about $300,000.
 In
January, 1997, First Baptist discussed and approved renovations on the
present building. We have torn down walls, erected new walls, purchased
new furniture for the sanctuary, education wing and choir room, renovated
the sanctuary, relocated offices and choir room, updated the sound system,
installed new floor tile, ceiling and carpet on the first and second
floors, and installed a heat pump in the education wing. The dedication,
generosity and sacrificial giving of many have made it possible for
this beautiful building and keep its ministries going today.
Check here for images from our church history.
Or here for all of our former pastors.
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