Pastor Tom Admin Baptist Church History January 15, 2021
Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives
Upper Room of the Court House – First Baptist Church of Knoxville
The First Baptist Church of Knoxville was organized January 15, 1843, in the upper room of the court house, the organization being completed on the 22nd of that month.
The ministers present on the latter occasion were as follows: Rev. Mr. Kennon, Duke Kimbrough, Mr. Milliken, Mr. Bellue, Mr. Coram and Mr. Ray.
The membership at first was quite small, being composed of twenty-six white persons and twenty colored. During the first few months of the existence of this church the membership grew quite rapidly and by August the enrollment reached eighty-five. Thirty had been added by experience and seventeen by letter, seven had been dismissed and one had been excommunicated.
This large increase in the membership was due to two revivals, one in the spring and one in the summer, the first having been conducted in the First Presbyterian Church by Rev. Dr. Baker of Texas, and the other by Rev. Israel Robards, who remained for several successive days and nights, arousing a deep religious interest in the community.
The first pastor of the church was Rev. Joseph A. Bullard, who remained one year. Those most prominent among his successors were the Revs. G. W. Griffin, Matthew Hillsman, L. B. Woolfolk, S. H. Smith, Dr. Brenker. D. D., J. L. Lloyd, J. B. F. Mays, George B. Eager, C. H. Strickland and E. A. Taylor.
Rev. E. A. Taylor at the end of a three years’ pastorate, lasting from 1885 to 1888, had one of the strongest congregations in the state of Tennessee, and a large, handsome brick church building, with his congregation out of debt. His labors in Knoxville are remembered with pleasure by his former parishioners. The membership at that time amounted to about 650, and the Sunday-school had a membership of more than 500 scholars.
After the retirement of Rev. E. A. Taylor toward the latter part of 1888, a call was extended January 23, 1889, to Rev. Carter Helm Jones, who began his labors there about February 1, 1889, remaining until April 30, 1893, upon which day he preached his farewell sermon, having accepted a call from the McFerrin Memorial Baptist Church of Louisville, Ky. During the four years of his pastorate in Knoxville he baptized 243 persons and admitted to the church 435.
Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: “Early Baptist in Knoxville, Tennessee”
Note from Tom: After early successes, the church experienced difficult days. As the Civil War raged, worship services were temporarily cancelled, and the church building was used as a hospital by the Union Army. When the building was returned to the congregation following the war it was barely usable; however, a few faithful members continued to meet together in the basement to pray. Their prayers and faithfulness were honored as God worked in and through them to bring about a time of growth and innovation. In the years that followed, many new ministries and missions grew out of the church. First Baptist started a ministry for Knoxville’s deaf population and churches were planted across the city reaching minority groups and growing population centers. When First Baptist dedicated a new building in 1887, the congregation gladly proclaimed to be “In the Center of the City with the Saviour.” God continued to bless First Baptist. Further growth required Bible studies to meet in Gay Street shops and army tents pitched on the church grounds. The congregation knew they must find a new meeting place, but First Baptist remained committed to downtown. Space was found a few blocks away on Main Street, a building was constructed, and the church moved into its new home in 1924, where it remains today.
http://fbcknox.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/
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