First Baptist Church
Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky
Marker Inscription
First Baptist Church. Second church in city; organized, February 25, 1816, with 13 members. Met in homes, then in House of Public Worship on southwest corner of Old Capitol square. An early pastor, Silas M. Noel, helped to establish Georgetown College. He was followed by the Rev. Porter Clay, brother of Henry Clay. First church was built on Lewis Street, 1827. It burned in 1867. Present site chosen, 1868.
Erected by Kentucky Historical Society
The Story
Organized on February 25, 1816, with just thirteen members, this was the second church in Frankfort, meeting first in homes and then in a House of Public Worship near the Old Capitol square. Its early pulpit drew notable figures: pastor Silas M. Noel helped found Georgetown College, and he was succeeded by the Rev. Porter Clay, brother of statesman Henry Clay. After the congregation's first building on Lewis Street burned in 1867, the present site was chosen in 1868.
Why it matters
The congregation links frontier faith to the making of Kentucky's institutions of higher learning and to the family of Henry Clay, one of the era's towering political figures.
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Related people
- · Silas M. Noel
- · Porter Clay
- · Henry Clay
Themes & tags
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