The First Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky is a historic Southern Baptist church established in 1864. It is known for its deep roots in the community, large building, and its pioneering role in shaping the financial structure of the Southern Baptist Convention[2]. The church's current building, a brick structure with orange and blue glazed brick and large stained glass windows decorating its exterior,[3] earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.[1]
The congregation's first frame church was built in 1848 at a cost of $440. A second church was constructed in 1901 for $5,500 [3]and was demolished in 1924.[4] The Church's current building ultimately cost more than $130,000, and had a lengthy construction process. The congregation adopted a strict policy to "pay as the building was erected," ensuring that no debt was ever allowed to accumulate against the building. Work began on the building in the fall of 1924 and by spring of 1928, the new building was completed enough to be used for services. It was formally dedicated on Sunday, October 25, 1936, completely free of debt. [4] On June 22, 1958 a $126,000 addition to the building was opened to public with a enlarged 1600-seat auditorium.[5]
Birth of the Cooperative Program
The Church is recognized as the birthplace of the financial system that became the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program. Around 1900, Pastor H. Boyce Taylor directed his congregation to implement the "Box Plan of Giving," This system used wooden offering boxes placed at each door. All the funds collected were divided up for ministry according to the budget the church had voted on. Due to its success, Taylor championed the plan statewide. The Kentucky Baptist Convention officially adopted the "unified budget plan" in 1915. Ten years later, in 1925, the model was adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention and renamed the Cooperative Program.[2]
In 1981, the Kentucky Baptist Convention voted to place a Historical marker at the church, formally recognizing it as the birthplace of the Cooperative Program.[2]
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