III. Where we have been

 

The beginning

 

In 1858, Winchester, Kentucky was an agrarian community of around 1,200 people. Clark County had a population of around 12,000, and 1/3 of that was slaves. As stated earlier, the idea of establishing First Baptist Church originated at a revival held that year. Since the Presbyterian Church was already established and they did not meet weekly, they graciously shared their building with the Baptist giving them an opportunity to meet and plan for their new church.

 

The members of the Baptist community pledged money, purchased land, and developed plans to build a small, wooden structure. In 1859, two years before the Civil War began, the building was complete. First Baptist Church sat in an idyllic setting, a field scattered with trees on top of a rolling hill overlooking the Clark County Court House, but sometimes things are not as they appear. This was one of the most difficult times in U.S. history. Early struggles included paying expenses and living in harmony during and following the war when families were often divided by the hostilities of war. The challenges were met, this crisis was survived. The church members remained most devoted, and the church saw slow but steady growth.

 

With the coming of the Industrial Revolution came a great influx of newcomers to Winchester, and the First Baptist Church saw her membership explode. The congregation had outgrown their first building, and with a great step of faith, a committee of men and women developed plans once again to build a facility that met their growing needs. The original church was demolished, the only time this would happen. In 1888, our present sanctuary was erected in the same location as the previous building, and it was quite impressive indeed with tall stain glassed windows as well as a dome stained glass on the roof and several high pitched roof levels. It was the largest religious building in Clark County at the time. The community looked at it in awe as well as those throughout the state and across the nation. Not only was it beautiful, but the church had no debt.

 

After WWII, the church saw another growth spurt. We purchased two lots behind the sanctuary in 1948, and the educational building was completed in 1950. In 1999, the Presbyterian Church where our first members met was purchased to house a church activity center. In 2022, our latest major update was that of refurbishing the dome stained glass in the ceiling of the sanctuary. This involved dismantling each piece, taking the pieces to Louisville, Kentucky for cleaning and repairs, and reinstalling it. As needs have arisen, renovations and innovations have occurred through very deliberate, thoughtful and responsible decisions for the past 165 years. First Baptist Church has been a good steward of what God has given her to serve the needs of the congregation and the community.

 

 

Ministries and missions

 

Historically, First Baptist Church has been mission minded.

• The first record of money being given for foreign missions was in 1884, and $17.00 was raised. In 1918, $5,000 was budgeted for missions and benevolences, and in 1920, the mission treasurer’s report showed $24,034.58 received and paid out for missions.

• Although the Women’s Missionary Union was founded in 1888, the first WMU for Kentucky was organized in our church in 1903. The WMU has played a vital role connecting our church with the needs of people in our community, our state, and in other countries.

• From 1922-1991, the Elizabeth Strode Circle met every month to sew for children in need at Fannie Bush Elementary School.

• In the early days, children were educated to the need for missions through Sunbeams, Girls Auxiliary, and Royal Ambassadors. In 1970, we shifted to Mission Friends for the preschoolers, Children in Action for 1st-6th grade, Girls in Action, and Acteens for the older girls. The boys remained in Royal Ambassadors.

• First Baptist Church has organized several missions in the town of Winchester as well as in Eastern Kentucky.

  • The Town Hall Chapel Hour was a mission that met several years in the Town Hall Theater. They were active until the theater closed. (1958)

  • Two missions that became autonomous congregations were Northside Baptist Church on Pendleton Street (1958) and Calvary Chapel on French Avenue (1988).

  • We supported the mission program in Nada, an area east of Winchester, until they felt they were ready to be a church. They began this next step with support offered by the Kentucky Baptist Fellowship and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. (1988)

• The Friendship Church was a ministry for people in our community who were Hispanic and who had come to work in our farming community. It met in our church fellowship hall. They had their own minister and in time, moved to a different location to better meet their needs. (1999)

• “Souper Bowl Sunday” was an ongoing tradition. On the Sunday of Super Bowl, the church would bring cans of soup or donate money for Winchester’s community needs center.

• “Feed My Sheep” was an ongoing youth ministry that provided sack lunches once a week to those in need in Winchester. Some individuals came to the church to pick up a meal, while church volunteers delivered meals to others who made this request. The program was quite successful, but COVID 19 made it impossible to continue.

 

 

The role of women
 

From the very beginning, women have been a vital part of First Baptist Church. We value their contributions and encourage them in the leadership they offer.

• Of the thirty-one charter members on June 8, 1859, there were seventeen women. The building committee for the second structure also listed women.

• Our first women deacons were ordained in 1995. Since that time, we have ordained four additional women to be deacons.

• We have had three women music ministers and two women children’s ministers.

 

 

Partnerships with other churches

 

• In recent months, our church has organized activities for the youth of our church with the youth of neighboring churches. This endeavor promises to support the Christian lives of our youth here in Winchester, Kentucky.

 

 

The importance of music

 

In March 2023 when our congregation was asked what is important from the past that needs to be carried on into the future, there was a resounding response that music for all generations is a priority. Music has been an integral part of our church worship services. Historically, our pastor and music minister have collaborated so that the music supports the message and worship service. Additionally, adults as well as children and youth of varying abilities and talents have provided opportunities for us to invite and connect with the community through special programs presented during the Christmas and Easter season and the 4th of July.

 

 

Overcoming adversity

 

• In the mid 1990s, First Baptist Church became dually aligned with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. In 2018, we experienced adversity created by the Kentucky Baptist Convention when they offered an ultimatum. We could only be a part of the Kentucky Baptist Convention if we broke ties with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We chose at that time to be an unaffiliated Baptist church. In all reality, we are for the most part the same congregation we were in 2018, those who support the Southern Baptist Convention sitting side by side with those who consider their beliefs to be more in keeping with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We cherish our diversity, share a mutual love and respect for each other, and know we have freedom to voice our beliefs without fear of alienation.

 

• COVID-19 brought with it adversities in 2019 when the pandemic was at its worst. First Baptist Church was fairly creative. While the temperatures were warm enough, we had drive-in services. A local radio station worked cooperatively with us so that the congregation could tune in and hear the message on our car radios while seeing the ministers from a distance and touching base with those from the congregation through waves. As the temperatures dropped, we were able to share our services online through Facebook and YouTube, something we continue to do. Our music minister coordinated Zoom choir specials to support the message. The congregation made home visits sitting with each other outside. The Sunday School director and teachers distributed Sunday School literature to the church members. Teachers share Sunday School notes through emails and gave members an opportunity to respond. It was not ideal to say the least, but we did persevere. Presently, the number of people attending our church services has dropped significantly, but we can see more returning and feel hopeful others will return.