First Baptist Church (Knoxville, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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First Baptist Church
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 510 Main Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee |
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| 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 is a special historic building in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is recognized as an important landmark. This church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a place with a lot of history.
Contents
A Look at Its History
The church community started in 1843. It was founded by James and John Moses. After their first baptism, the church had 46 members. This included 20 African-Americans.
Early Buildings and Growth
The church opened its first Sunday School in 1845. Their first building was built in 1844. It was located on Gay Street. A second building was later built there in 1887.
The Current Church Building
The 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. The church is located on Main Street.
Design and Special Features
The current church building is very special. It has a Neoclassical design. This style looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is shaped like an octagon.
The church was designed by Dougherty & Gardner. They were architects from Nashville, Tennessee. The design was inspired by a famous church in London. This church is called St Martin-in-the-Fields.
The outside of the church sanctuary is made of marble. The parts of the church used for education are made of brick.
The Church Organ
A large Hook & Hastings organ was installed in 1923. This organ has four keyboards. It also has a special "echo organ" in the tower. This part of the organ can be played from its own keyboard.
What Kind of Church Is It?
The First Baptist Church is a moderate Christian church. It is part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. This is a group of churches in the southern United States.
