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The Beginnings of Ninth Street Baptist Church
About that time, they were ready to improve the conditions
of the building. Therefore, in a few months, they called as their pastor, the
Reverend H. Miller about 1900, and he started the renovation of the old
structure and made some progress doing so. It was a slow progress and he left
to go elsewhere in 1908. They were without a pastor once more and during that
time Brother Nelson, our lay member of the church who was strong in the faith
held the church together by holding weekly prayer service and Sunday school.
During that time, various ministers were called to preach on Sundays. In
December 1911, the Reverend William Taylor of Lexington, Kentucky was called to
the pastorate. Rev, Taylor was a preacher with a wide vision and soon set out
to complete the work Rev. Miller had started. The cornerstone was laid in 1914
and the “Little Mission” was named “Ninth Street Baptist Church.” They
worshipped in a basement church for seven years and it did not seem that they
would ever be able to finish the building. It was during that period that the
church learned that nothing is lost in talking to GOD – She prayed on, and that
no time is lost in waiting on GOD – She waited on. GOD was in the plan.
Deacon Henry Washington and his wife Maggie who lived at
323 East 11th Street, (the exact spot where the Macedonia Missionary
Baptist Church stands) mortgaged their home so that the Ninth Street Baptist
Church could be completed. In the month of April 1921, they marched upstairs
into the newly completed Sanctuary. It was like a dream come true and the
result of many sacrifices and the answer to many prayers. Under the leadership
of Rev. Taylor the membership increased by baptism and relationship, and all
groups were organized. One of the first organizations was the Usher Board, with
Sister Mary Jones as its first president. Sister Virginia Jackson organized the
Missionary Society in November 1921, with Sister Maggie Washington as president.
The Official Staff: Ten Deacons were ordained, James Mallory, John Webb Sr,
James Webb, Calvin Whatley Sr, George M. Lacey, Alex Armstrong, John Owens,
William Hall, Taylor Johnson, and Henry Washington. Five Ministers were
ordained. Elijah Kelly and sent to Calvary Baptist Church, Cincinnati, OH.
George M. Lacey, and sent to First Baptist Churches, Flemingsburg, and Augusta,
KY. G. W. Buckner, and sent to Mount Zion Baptist Church, Latonia, KY. Robert
Hughes and Nelson Orr, who remained as associate ministers of Ninth Street.
Music Department The Church Choir was organized and the Kitchen Utensil
Orchestra was organized with Sister Elizabeth as president of both. A church
bus was brought for the Sunday school, and for transportation elderly members.
Our Church was accepted as a member of Howard’s Creek District Association, and
remained until 1974. Reverend Taylor went to his eternal rest on January 25,
1931 after serving as pastor for twenty years.
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