First Baptist Church (Murray, Kentucky)

First Baptist Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front and northern side, together with later addition to right
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Location	203 S. Fourth St., Murray, Kentucky
Coordinates	36°36′33″N88°18′5″W / 36.60917°N 88.30139°W / 36.60917; -88.30139
Area	0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Built	1924-1933
MPS	Murray Kentucky MRA
NRHP reference No.	86000289 [1]
Added to NRHP	February 19, 1986

The First Baptist Church in Murray, Kentucky, is a historic Southern Baptist church established in 1864. ^[2] 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. ^[3] The church's current building, notable for its declarative brickwork and stained glass windows, earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. ^[1]

Construction history

Former buildings

The congregation's first building was a simple frame church built in 1848 at a cost of $440. A larger second church was constructed in 1901 for $5,500 ^[2] and was demolished in 1924. ^[4]

Current building

The Church's current building cost more than $130,000, to build 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]

Additions and expansions

In the late 1940s, a shortage of space for Sunday School classes led the church to undertake a major building campaign. Under the leadership of Pastor H. C. Chiles, the church approved plans for a large Educational Building to be added onto the existing building in April 1949. The $97,000 structure was constructed quickly with extensive donated labor and services. The 84-room building was completed and opened on May 21, 1950, resulting in a record-breaking Sunday School attendance of over 1,000 on its first day of use. ^[5] This addition created an L-shaped building and was designed to be harmonious with the main structure. ^[1]

On June 22, 1958, a $126,000 addition to the auditorium was opened to the public that enlarged the rooms seating compacity to 1,600. ^[6]

In 1994, a three-story, 21,000-square-foot addition to the educational building was erected costing approximately $1.5 million. Groundbreaking took place on April 11, 1993, the new facility provided a dedicated educational space for all children and youth age groups. ^[5]

Architecture and National Register listing

The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, because of the buildings architectural significance, noting its "high artistic values in its exterior detailing". The building's most distinctive feature is the beautiful orange and blue glazed brick used in the exterior construction and decoration, a feature that is uncommon in the region. The creative use of inexpensive building materials, such as corbelling in the entrance arch and vertical brick in the belt courses, is seen as an ingenious response during a period of economic hardship. ^[1]

The two-story sanctuary rests on a raised basement level. A large flight of steps leads up to a porch, where double brick piers support three pointed arches that define the top of the entrance. A stone cornice runs across the top of the building, above which rises a parapet wall decorated with diamond panels of blue glazed bricks. ^[1]

Legacy

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. ^[3]

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. ^[3]

Preservation and maintenance

Window controversy

In June 2011, the church entered a public dispute regarding the maintenance of its historic building when the congregation voted to seek approval to replace its original, deteriorating stained glass windows. An application was submitted to the Murray Architectural Review Board that proposed replacing the windows with a darker design that would allow less light to enter the room. The application was unanimously denied by the Board, who cited the church's status on the National Register of Historic Places. The Architectural Review Board argued that replacing the historic 80-year-old windows would compromise the building's historical integrity. ^[7] Following the rejection, the church submitted a revised plan that proposed replacing the windows with near duplicates of the existing ones. The Architectural Review Board hesitatingly granted approval for the revised plan. ^[8]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Kentucky

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: First Baptist Church". National Park Service . Retrieved January 23, 2018. With five photos from 1985.
3. Ben Stratton (October 1, 2020). "Cooperative Program roots are in Kentucky". Kentucky Baptist Convention. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
4. "Great Throng Attends Dedication of First Baptist Church Sunday". The Ledger & Times. October 29, 1936. p. 1.
5. Birdwhistell, Ira V (1996). A heart for missions : a history of the First Baptist Church, Murray, Kentucky, 1846-1996. Providence House Publishers. pp. 152–154, 207–210.
6. Jennings, Dorothy and Kirby (1980). The Story of Calloway County, 1822-1976. p. 396.
7. Writer, KYSER LOUGH • Staff (June 21, 2011). "ARB rejects First Baptist application for windows". Murray Ledger and Times. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
8. Writer, ANGIE HATTON • Staff (October 7, 2011). "Architectural Review Board apporves new First Baptist windows". Murray Ledger and Times. Retrieved December 9, 2025.