First Baptist Church (1816–1900)
St. Clair Street • Frankfort, Kentucky
Historical Period Covered: 1816 – 1900 (with 20th-century pastor additions)
Transcribed By: Anne Holder Lee
Organization & Property History
First Baptist Church was organized in 1816 under the direction of Silas Noel. In its initial years, the congregation was known as the Baptist Church of Jesus Christ at Frankfort. Unable to support a full-time minister early on, the congregation relied on visiting preachers, including John Taylor on occasion, before calling Henry Toler as its first pastor on February 22, 1817.
Meeting Locations & Houses of Worship
- 1816–1818: Met in temporary locations, including the courthouse square, private homes, and the State Capitol.
- 1818–1825: Held services at the local House of Public Worship for nearly seven years.
- 1827: Purchased a lot on Lewis Street from Henry and Ann Crittenden and erected the first Baptist church building within the Frankfort city limits.
- December 6, 1867: Fire completely destroyed the original Lewis Street building.
- April 1, 1869: The original Lewis Street property was sold to Isham Dudley, and a contract for a new sanctuary on St. Clair Street was awarded to builder Leo Oberwarth.
Pastoral Succession (1816–1900)
| Tenure / Era | Pastor Name | Historical Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1816–1836 | Silas Noel | Organizer & Chief Pastor until moving to Lexington. |
| Feb 1817 – Mar 1818 | Henry Toler | First official settled pastor. |
| 1818–1819 | Jacob Creath | Second settled pastor. |
| 1821–1824 | Philip Slater Fall | Served prior to Boulware & Clay. |
| 1820s–1830s | Theodrick Boulware & Porter Clay | Served alongside Silas Noel's leadership. |
| 1830s–1840s | George Blackburn & James Webb | Served following Noel's departure to Lexington. |
| 1840s | George Sedwick | Served approx. 18 months. |
| 1840s | William Hurley | Served approx. 18 months. |
| 1840s | James M. Frost | Served a short stint. |
| Feb 1844 – 1847 | Abner Goodell | Resigned after three years due to ill health. |
| Mar 1847 – Sep 1847 | Cadwallader Lewis | Served brief term. |
| Pre-Civil War | John W. Goodman, Alexander Macey, Andrew Broaddus, Y. R. Pitts, J. B. Tharp | Served during the antebellum era. |
| Civil War Years | Rev. Thomas McKee, Dr. Newton Porter, W. S. Jermane | Served during the Civil War period. |
| Sep 1868 | Lyman W. Seeley | First preached at Frankfort in Sept 1868. |
| 1872 | Green Clay Smith | Former Civil War General and U.S. Congressman. |
| 1870s–1880s | James M. Lewis | Served prior to Bagby. |
| 1884 | George F. Bagby | Assumed pastorate in 1884. |
| 1890 | William C. Taylor | Assumed pastorate in 1890. |
| Jan 1, 1898 | Maldon B. Adams | Led church to eliminate debt and expand building within two years. |
20th-Century Successive Pastors
Frederick W. Eberhardt, Fred Brown, James T. McGlothlin, Chesterfield Turner, Ross E. Dillon, Dr. Frederick T. Moffett, Sr., Dr. Herman Bowers, Billy G. Hurt, and Mark Hopper.