First Baptist Church of Paducah, KY - Loving God, Loving People

History

A Brief History of First Baptist Church, Paducah

The First Baptist Church of Paducah, Kentucky, is a historic church with a rich heritage. The church was organized in December of 1839 as a mission of New Bethel Church, and it was officially constituted with twenty-one charter members on December 14, 1840.

For two years, the congregation met in the McCracken County Courthouse, awaiting the time when it could afford its own church building. And in 1842, a new building was built on the south side of Broadway between Third and Fourth Streets. It was the second church building in Paducah (the first was built in 1840 by Broadway Methodist Church).

In March of 1861, plans were approved for a new church building at the southwest corner of Fifth and Jefferson Streets. Although the building was unfinished at the time of the occupation of Paducah in 1861 by Federal soldiers under General Ulysses S. Grant, it was commandeered for use as a Civil War hospital. The building, badly damaged, was returned to the congregation in 1866, and it was repaired, completed, and dedicated by 1868. The church used this building until a new one was built and dedicated in 1917. The congregation continued to grow and flourish during this period of its existence.

In 1965, First Baptist Church moved from its location on Fifth and Jefferson to its current location at 2890 Broadway. Beginning in 1973, the church expanded its influence in the surrounding communities with the advent of a TV ministry (which has continued to this day).

Today, First Baptist Church is a congregation that celebrates its past but looks forward to its future as it remains committed to God-focused worship, expositional teaching, Christ-like ministry, and biblical community.

Indeed, Soli Deo Gloria!

Churches Planted by First Baptist Church, Paducah

Part of the rich heritage of First Baptist Church, Paducah is its commitment to evangelism and missions. One of the ways this commitment can be seen is by the churches we have planted in and around our community throughout our history.

Washington Street Baptist Church, 1855 (first African-American church in Western KY)
Second Baptist Church, now known as Immanuel Baptist Church, 1894
Twelfth Street Mission, now known as Twelve Oaks Baptist Church, 1903
West End Baptist Church, 1919
Grace Baptist Church, 1919
Park Avenue Baptist Church, 1951
West Paducah Mission, now known as Hillcrest Baptist Church, 1998