200th Celebration
200 years of faith
Church reflects on its rich history
First Printed: Georgetown News-Graphic Georgetown, Kentucky •Vol. 60, No. 108 September 9, 2010
By Thomas Musgrave Georgetown News-Graphic
Kentucky was almost two decades out the starting gate as a state in the young union when 13 Georgetown (or George Town as it was known at the time) residents, along with the Rev. Davis Biggs, organized what would come to be known as Georgetown Baptist Church.
Next week, the church’s 21st century congregation will celebrate its 200th anniversary with a series of special events, culminating in a banquet 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at Hilton Garden Inn and a special bicentennial service at both church services, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sept. 19.
Contrary to some historical accounts, Georgetown Baptist’s early church membership was not made up mostly of members of the Elkhorn Crossing community.
“It was composed of ‘town people,’” church member Maribeth Hambrick said.
From the church’s own historic records, the first parishioners were “James Betts, John Hawkins, James Chalk and wife, William Hewitt and wife, Presley Neale, Mrs. Doleman, Mrs. McFall, William Hutchings and wife and John Branham and wife.”
Of those original 13 members, only Betts and Chalk still were members of the church by 1830, the others having died or moved further west into the expanding American frontier, Hambrick said.
Unlike modern times when churches meet at least once a week, and often on Wednesdays, the early church met only once a month. Biggs was a pastor at several other Baptist churches in the region and turnover among the preachers was high, church member Stan Dyer said.
“Early on, they may only have stayed three or four years,” he said. “They came and went. It was only later in the church’s history that it started meeting twice a month.”
In 1821, Biggs left for the infant state of Missouri, itself only having been admitted the union in 1820. Biggs developed a successful pastorate there, Carolyn Dyer, another church member said.
“His sons and all his family followed after him and did wonderful things for the state of Missouri,” she said.
Georgetown Baptist was the starting point for several ministers who went on to greater rewards, she said.
“We had several who went on to become outstanding Baptist ministers,” Stan Dyer said.
Although he never was minister at Georgetown Baptist, the Rev. Robert James is among the more noteworthy members of Georgetown Baptist’s congregation over the church’s two centuries. Robert James is the father of notorious outlaws Frank and Jesse James.
Robert James came to Georgetown in 1840 and married Zerelda Cole from Great Crossing. She joined Georgetown Baptist in 1842, according to Carolyn Dyer. Robert James graduated Georgetown College in 1844 and eventually he and Zerelda James moved to Missouri, where Robert James helped found William Jewell College.
Robert James followed the California gold rush out west and died of an illness while he was there preaching to miners.
“I’m guessing his being away meant he couldn’t be a positive influence on (Frank and Jesse),” Hambrick said with a laugh.
Among Georgetown Baptist’s other contributions to the faith was a curriculum for Sunday school, Carolyn Dyer said.
James Marion Frost Jr.’s “Kind Words for Children” was a seminal text for Sunday school.
“That was his crowning glory,” Carolyn Dyer said.
Frost went on to build the foundation of what would become Baptist publishing company and bookseller Lifeway, she said.
Into the 20th century, the church rose to a challenge issued to all Southern Baptist churches by the Southern Baptist Convention to raise $75 million for various projects of the church.
“For Georgetown they told us our goal was $100,000, and that was in the 1920s,” Carolyn Dyer said. “We said we’d raise $105,000.”
The church actually fell short of that goal, raising $92,000. Still, Carolyn Dyer said, it was a significant amount for a single church to raise during that time.
“We were only the second church in Kentucky to be able to give that amount,” she said.
In the church’s records there was very little mention of major events like World War I, the Great Depression and World War II.
“During the Depression, you saw finances down during that time,” Stan Dyer said. “There was a significant decrease in the offering, but that was about it.”
1957 was a banner year for the church, Stan Dyer said. It baptized 148 members.
“That was a historic record,” Stan Dyer said.
“And we had 1,048 enrolled in Sunday school,” Carolyn Dyer said.
As a result of a decision the church made in 1988 to remove the word “male” from the qualifications for service as a church deacon, Hambrick became a pioneer. She was elected the first female deacon in Georgetown Baptist’s history.
“At that time it was important in a lot of churches for women to be deacons,” she said. “I was honored to be elected, although I didn’t play a major role in getting women admitted as deacons.”
The 1988 decision was not the first time the subject of women deacons came up in Georgetown Baptist’s history. About 10 to 15 years earlier the church considered and rejected the chance, Hambrick said.
“It came up again in 1988 and really got pushed,” she said. “I think it was something the Rev. Dick Allison was in favor of.
“There are some who left the church over (the decision), but by and large the church has accepted it really well.”
Hambrick is currently serving her fifth term as a deacon.
“It gives you the feeling you’re involved in more of the life of the church,” she said.
CELEBRATIONS
As part of the bicentennial, the church has several events planned. On Sept. 12 former pastors, missionaries and other church officials are invited to give quick remarks to the congregation during services. Also, a bicentennial exhibit will open that day and be on display all week.
On Sept. 14 the Bicentennial Brotherhood/Women’s Missionary Union will hold a light salad dinner and a special program.
Former pastor Allison will return to the pulpit Sept. 15 for a special mid-week lift service. And the week will conclude with the banquet 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at Hilton Garden Inn. The banquet is open to anyone. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under. For information about the banquet and any other event, call (502) 863-2739. Tickets must be purchased by Sept. 14.
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