First Baptist Church is a historic church located in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
First Baptist Church | |
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| Location | 510 Main Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| Coordinates | 35°57′37″N 83°55′7″W / 35.96028°N 83.91861°W |
| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1923 |
| Built by | Worsham Bros. |
| Architect | Dougherty & Gardner |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival, Octagon |
| MPS | Knoxville and Knox County MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000223[1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 8, 1997 |
The congregation was organized in 1843 by James and John Moses. After its first baptismal service in nearby First Creek, the church had 46 members, including 20 African-Americans. The church organized its first Sunday School in 1845. The first building was constructed on Gay Street in 1844. The second building was built at the same location in 1887.[2]
The third (and present) building was completed in 1923 at the Main Street location, three years after Dr. Frederick Fernando Brown became pastor. A four-manual Hook & Hastings organ was installed, featuring an echo organ located in the tower played from a separate keyboard.[3] This architecturally-significant structure, noteworthy for its Neoclassical design and octagonal sanctuary, was designed by Dougherty & Gardner of Nashville, Tennessee, and is modeled on St Martin-in-the-Fields of London. The exterior of the church sanctuary is sheathed in marble, although the adjoining education space is brick.[2] The congregation is moderate,[4] and is member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,[5] a mainline denomination in the South.
References
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Ann K. Bennett (October 1996). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: First Baptist Church". National Park Service. Retrieved February 5, 2016. Accompanying 24 photos.
- ^ "Knoxville Church to have Four-Manual" (PDF). The Diapason. 51 (1): 1. December 1, 1923.
- ^ "What We Believe". fbcknox.org. Archived from the original on 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Partner Ministries". fbcknox.org. Retrieved 28 June 2020.