First Baptist Church (Knoxville, Tennessee) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
First Baptist Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in Tennessee Show map of Tennessee Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	510 Main Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee
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
Added to NRHP	March 8, 1997

The First Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, is a very old and important building. It is so special that it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as a significant historical site in the United States.

A Look Back: The Church's History

The First Baptist Church started a long time ago, in 1843. It was founded by two people named James and John Moses.

• After their first special service, the church had 46 members. This included 20 African-American members.
• In 1845, the church started its first Sunday School. This is a place where people learn about their faith.
• The very first church building was built in 1844 on a street called Gay Street.
• Later, in 1887, a second building was built in the same spot.

The Current Church Building

The church building you see today is the third one. It was finished in 1923. This was three years after Dr. Frederick Fernando Brown became the pastor, or leader, of the church.

• This building is famous for its beautiful Neoclassical design. This style of architecture looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
• It also has a unique octagonal, or eight-sided, main worship area.
• The church was designed by architects Dougherty & Gardner from Nashville, Tennessee.
• It was inspired by a famous church in London, England, called St Martin-in-the-Fields.
• The outside of the church is made of shiny marble. The parts of the building used for education are made of brick.
• Inside, there is a large Hook & Hastings organ. This special organ has four keyboards and an "echo organ" in the tower.

The First Baptist Church is part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. This is a group of Baptist churches that work together.