Grants Lick Baptist Church History
Written by William W Wilburn in 1976 and published in the
Kentucky Explorer November 2003
Grants Lick Baptist Church was organized November 19, 1859 at Plum Creek. This small group was organized under the name of the Regular Baptist Church, meeting for the first time in a log building near Grants Lick.
A Mr. Clary, seeing the need of a new church home for the congregation gave the ground in 1895, where a new church building was erected and dedicated, being debt-free. Their goal was as the Bible says, "Owe no man anything save love." Although there has been another church erected, the church remains in the original location. The first church building was beautiful with its lovely chandeliers, as well as nice seats, pulpit furniture and plastered walls. Bro. William Grizzel was the first pastor. As far as we know he is the only pastor buried in the old churchyard.
Miss Mary Aulick, a member, became a missionary to China. There she married Bro. Henry Hudson, and they served the Lord there until the Boxer Rebellion. She now rests in the Oakland Cemetery.
Early records, too, show there was a Sabbath School as early as June 1869, but on April 5, 1902, our first Sunday School was organized. Detailed records were kept, even the weather conditions. In 1898 the first Women's Missionary Union was started. During the pastorate of Bro. J. W. Boagle, 1902-1904, the church moved to have services from once to twice monthly.
In the early 1900s the church voted to support home and foreign missions, elected messengers to the Campbell County Association, collected money for the State Temperance Cause, voted to take the Western Recorder, and started the Baptist Young People's Union program. Pastors who served so efficiently from 1904 to 1936 were: a Taylor, Hiram Grizzel, B. S. Akers, C. E. Brown, Sporing, Clark, W. M. Wilson, C. E. Brown, B. F. Yelton, Sporing, Chas. Ellis, N. Y. Beall, O. E. Bradshaw, and a Barbee.
In 1936 Bro. D. P. DeHart, referred to as a "singing preacher," became pastor and served as the first music director. He is now (1976) pastor of a Baptist church in Marion, Kentucky. Bro. Garlon Sills led the church to full-time service beginning April 1, 1949.
During Bro. J. R. Armstrong's ministry, the enlarging of the church building was begun. A new basement and Sunday School rooms were built. About this time Mrs. J. B. Smith gave a tract of land about one-half mile from the church in memory of her husband. A building which had been purchased in Ft. Thomas was moved to this site, which then served as the parsonage.
Bro. Robert Morris was called in May 1959, and he resigned in June 1959. During the ministry of Bro. James R. Sowder the church voted to purchase the tract of ground on the other side of the road from Mr. Charles and Miss Bertha Prim, in order that a new parsonage and church could be built for the glory of God.
Bro. R. G. Livingood was our next pastor from 1963-1968. Because of heredity, environment, training, and experiences one's personality can be developed to various temperaments. Influential sections and decisions, along with the ability of leadership by dissatisfied members of our church, caused many less disturbed individuals to become aroused over personalities of individuals who were trying to promote the work in their respective way. Therefore, on November 8, 1964, a petition with 84 names was read at the close of the evening service, requesting their names be removed from the church fellowship, in order for them to organize their own church. Although this was a rude awakening we knew "God works in mysterious ways His miracles to perform." Prayerfully and humbly we have continued to prosper with God's ever-loving help.
During Bro. Roger Powell's pastorate a new parsonage was completed, having sold the old parsonage. Bro. Bill Bernard was called in December 1971. The church had become debt-free under his leadership. We are continuing to grow as the membership is now in 1976 485.
Pastors who have gone out to serve the Lord from our church are: Reginald Chalk, Gayle Clifton, Lewis Haynes and Frank Florence. Also Frank and Elizabeth Florence served as associate missionaries to Bogotá, Columbia, South America in the early 1970s. So in faith, we with God's help, endeavor to go forward, as growing and friendly church, welcoming all those who wish to visit or worship with us.