In his last illness he [Jim Mahan] called in Uncle [John W.] Siler and Dr. [Ancil] Gatliff. He is reported to have said, "It is my purpose to set aside from my estate $2,500- for a new church.  Siler, I want you to match this amount; and, Doctor, I want you to double it."  It is told that Siler squirmed a bit, but said, "Jim, if you think I should give so much, then I'll do it." Of course, no proposed giving was ever large enough to feaze Dr. Gatliff.  Thus this church started toward greater things.--Professor A. R. Evans, Chairman of the Deacons, January 16, 1938, Record Book C, p. 208

On April 1, 1906, a building committee composed of Dr. A. Gatliff, John W. Siler, and Thomas B. Mahan was appointed. Soon the Church began to meet in the Institute (now Roburn) Hall and the church house was torn down. Later worship services were moved to the second-floor chapel located in the Gray Brick (now Bennett) Building.

Construction of the new building cost around twenty-five thousand dollars.  The dedication took place on Sunday, April 5, 1908.  On the day of dedication the debt on the building stood at about $8,000. When Pastor Hibbs took a collection to be applied toward the debt, he asked the members to contribute half that sum, but they gave $5,500. Later he wrote that "if he had only had the faith to have asked for all of it, they would had given it."  The Second (now Main Street) Church dismissed its worship so that its members could attend the dedication of the new meetinghouse.

This new red-brick building had an auditorium that could be expanded on the left side by raising a door which could be pushed upward into the ceiling and out of sight.  A choir loft and later a pipe organ were located on the right side of the pulpit, while a baptistry was on the left.

The second church had rooms at the side with sliding walls which were raised like a roll-top desk. -- Grace Perkins Austin

I remember when I went to church in what then was the old red brick church.

I remember the choir loft where my mother was and Professor Gorman Jones at the organ which was behind and above the choir. His back was toward the congregation and he had a (rearview) mirror through which he could watch the director. --Nancy Richardson Caudill

The church had no inside plumbing, but the Perkins home across the street did.  The ladies of the church many times visited the Perkins "powder room" between Sunday School and church. -- Hugh C. Steely

I remember the choir director, Mr. Wooton, and his wife (she was taller than her husband), as they sang a duet. Her face and her deep contralto voice have stayed with me all these years: she was an older version of the daughter in the famous Grant Wood painting - American Gothic.

I have never forgotten the first verse of the hymn they sang: "Ere you left your room this morning / Did you think to pray? / In the name of Christ our Saviour / did you ask for loving favor / As a shield today?" -- Roger Stephens

On one side of the church was a store.  On the other side of the church was the house built as the parsonage in 1889.  The church had allowed the house to become run down during the tenure of Henry Hibbs.  When the Wrights came in 1912, they were given different quarters.  Across the street was the home of Thomas Crittend and Sara (Steely) Perkins.  The Perkins' children included Grace Perkins Austin and Edgar Steely Perkins (father of Phillip).  Sara Perkins was the sister of Isaac N. Steely, father of Hugh (Butch's father).

Three pastors served in this brick churchhouse: Rev. Henry H. Hibbs, Sr. (1897-1911), Rev. Elijah Floyd Wright (1912-1919), and Rev. Condie Collins Pugh (1921-1924). After less than sixteen years of use, the brick churchhouse was destroyed by fire on January 5-6, 1924.

I have a vague memory of the old church that burned on a cold winter night in the early 1920's - so cold that the water lines had frozen and there was no way to save the building. It was a Saturday night and the janitor had fired up the furnace for the next morning service. I lived only a block away, but my family let me sleep through the fire, and on Sunday morning my brothers laughed at me as I went about getting ready for Sunday School. -- Roger Stephens

The swift burning embers blew onto the roof of the Perkins home (across the street), and a bucket brigade was formed to save other buildings.  It was so cold the water would freeze if left in the bucket even a short time. -- Hugh C. Steely

I remember the night the church burned. I lived in a two story house on Main Street on the lot that is now Lester's Barber Shop. I stood on the second floor back porch at night and watched the church burn. We then had church in the Gray Brick Building at the college. --Nancy Richardson Caudill

On January 5, 1924 about 12:00 P.M. the First Baptist Church of Williamsburg, Kentucky was completely destroyed by fire.  The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is thought to have started in the Primary Department.  The fire was discovered by the janitor's wife, who was up late sewing and happened to see the light in the church and immediately put in an alarm.

The total amount of insurance on the church was $34,200.00.  The pastor saved the greater part of his books which were in the pastor's study, but everything else was completely destroyed, and only the walls left standing.

Owing to the extremely cold weather, which registered around zero, and the fact that there was no water, except from nearby wells, the fire department was unable to fight the fire, which had gained such great headway before they could get to the church.  Some of the machinery at the pumping station was broken, which accounted for the water being off at this time.--as recorded in the First Baptist Church Record Book C, p. 19

 

Based on To Win the Prize by Chester Raymond Young, with additional material from "I Remember When..." booklet by Upward Bound Adults (2005),
notes from interview of Grace Perkins Austin and Hugh Steely by Pauline Croley (1982), and First Baptist Record Book C.  Pictures are taken from a
post card dated 1911 (First Baptist Church collection) and The Eglantine (1909), Williamsburg Institute (University of the Cumberlands archive collection).

Return to the home page for First Baptist Church.