History of Providence, KY
Part 4
by Frances Bassett Price

Early Churches

Early the settlers turned their attention to religions affairs. In the acts of the Kentucky Legislature for Jan. 4, 1841, Act 48, we find a reference to church affairs of the town. "Act for the benefit of the Trustees of Baptist Church of Providence and other purposes":

"Be it enacted by the General Assmebly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky that it shall be lawful for Danl. Head and John Montgomery and others, trustees of the Baptist church of Providence in Hopkins County to file their petition in the Hopkins Circuit Court to which Dickson and Joseph R. Givens, infant devisees of Eleazar Givens deceased, and all others who interests are concerned shall be made parties either as complainants or defendants, setting forth that exchange of sixty square poles of land had been agreed on between Eleazar and said trustees of said Baptist church but had not been reduced to writing and that he had sold the land received from the said trustees of Danl. Head and put him in possession but had not conveyed the legal title and upon the facts being made to appear by proof and the Court being satisfied that the interest of said infant heirs will not suffer by it, it shall be lawful for said court to decree that said exchange and sale shall be carried into effect and to decree deeds of conveyance to be made so as to fully carry out the intention of the parties."

Early in the century the Primitive Baptists, under the above Leadership of the Rev. John Dorris had built a rough church of logs on southeast side of Main St. About 1835 the Rev. Timothy Sisk came into the community preaching the Missionary Baptist doctrine, and a split occurred in the church, one faction going with Dorris, the other with Sisk. After considerable litigation the Primitive Baptists were given the church building which they removed to a site known as the Old Baptist Hill. The Rev. Dorris was pastor many years.

The Missionary Baptists purchased from Lorenzo D. Orr for $100 twenty acres between Main and Cedar Streets and built a commodious building near the present residence of W. J. Nisbet. It had a gallery for slaves. In 1838 the church, known as Sharon, called its first pastor, Elder Wm. Morrison. Joseph Board then served until 1846, when the Rev. Gabriel Sisk became the pastor. He served until 1853 when Joel E. Grace was called by the church to its pulpit. From 1855 until 1859 the Rev. John Withers was pastor. In 1859 the Rev. Nicholas Lacy of Christian County became pastor and served ten years. During his pastorate the church building was remodelled and rebuilt, farther up the hillside near the present site of the Methodist Church.

The Rev. __. (page torn) C. Hopewell was pastor was 1869 to 1902. From 1902 to 1920 S. V. McGill served as pastor. The present pastor, the Rev. Benjamin Connaway has served since January 1910. The present commodious brick building was built in 1890 and was remodelled and enlarged about 20 years ago.

About 1890 one branch of the Primitive Baptist erected an attractive new building on West Main. Among their most generous and active leaders may be mentioned T. B. Payne, D. H. Cullen, W. S. Northern, several of the Jennings and Dorris families; in fact a church with a wonderful personnel. J. N. Wallace was pastor.

In the late autumn of 1885 two brilliant Tennesseans, the Rev. J. T. Barbee and his son, Baxter, assisted by the Revs. W. W. Brown, G. W. Bone, W. W. Wynns and J. L. Price held a protracted meeting in the old Sharon Baptist church, the only church building in town at that time. This meeting, one of the greatest held in the community, lasted many weeks and resulted in many conversations.

On the thirtieth day of the following January 1886 a Cumberland Presbyterian church organization was completed with the Rev. J. T. Barbee in charge assisted by W. W. Wynns and J. L. Price with the following members:

Mrs. Jane Eades, Mrs. Mary Banks, Mrs. Sallie Williams, Mrs. Ellen Corbett, Mrs. Ellen Dorris, Mrs. Emma Melton, Mrs. Louis Givens, Mrs. M. A. McGaw, Mrs. Emma Wilson, Mrs. Mattie McGaw, Mrs. Emma Hicks, Mrs. J. E. Holloman, Mrs. Helen Price, Mrs. Jane C. Brown, Lillie Brown, Amanda Marlin, Mollie Cannaday, Ida Taylor, Jennie Givens, Nancy Wilson, Almeda Taylor, Jas. T. Cardwell, Thos. Banks, George Wilson, John P. M McGaw, D. M. Dodds, John R. Melton, K. G. Rice, H. B. Williams, S. H. Williams, James McGaw, M. M. Givens, E. Q. Townes, Mrs. M. E. Greer, Sallie Kirkwood, Sara H. Grass, Misses M. E. Williams, Lissa Williams, Sallie Quirey, F. M. Martin, Jennie Thomas, Ada McGaw, Ona Sims, Attaway Quirey, Minnie Dorris, May Quirey, Sallie Rice, Minnie Head, Maggie Martin, Katie Cook, Sallie Metcalf, Ann Quirey, J. T. Rice, Frank Marlin, M. K. Givens, J. T. Anderson, John H. Taylor, C. E. Graham, T. W. Dorris, R. L. Price, O. C. Quirey, J. A. Head, A. J. Lloyd, Eddie Jennings, Wm. Mallow, Thos. Corbett, Richard Gross, Robt. Banks, C. J. Payne, Wm. McGary, A. E. Orr, Sam McKinstry, T. L. Taylor, John Kirkwood, Joseph Corbett, H. S. Greer, G. T. Martin, Lionel Sims, Geo. R. McGaw, Walter Thomas and W. S. David.

The following were installed as ruling elders: Joseph Corbett, A. E. Orr, James T. Caldwell, John H. Taylor, James T. Anderson, Sylvester H. Williams and K. G. Rice.

Largely through the generosity of Kearney G. Rice and Sylvester H. Williams during the summer a nice church building was erected on what is now South Broadway. The dedicatory sermon was preached in October 1886 by the Rev. J. T. Barbee.

A split coming in 1909 between the congregation in regard to uniting with the Presbyterian church U. S. A. About 58 withdrew from this organization and later built a church house on Locust Street. About 60 members remained with the Presbyterians with the following ruling elders: Harvey Tinsley, W. T. Baker, J. B. Benjamin, R. L. Price, Geo. R. McGaw, Dr. A. O. Williams, T. W. Dorris, W. L. Baker, F. M. Baker, F. W. Nichols. Among pastors may be mentioned J. T. Barbee, 1886-88; N. F. Gill, 1890-92; P. A. Lyon, 1892-93; W. W. Wynns, 1893-94; J. T. Barbee, 1894-95; J. L. Price, 1895-99; B. F. McMican, 1900-1902; H. C. Temple, 1902-04; B. T. Watson, 1904-05; P. D. Tucker, 1905-07; G. L. Woodruff, 1907; W. T. Oakley, 1908-1910; J. R. King, 1910.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1883 or 84 largely through the untiring efforts of a devout and cultured woman named Mrs. Elizabeth Finch who had come to the locality from Bowling Green as a teacher. Largely through the generosity of Dudley Brooks, J. H. Justice, John Bormuth, A. Niswonger, and Frank Gianina the present house was built and dedicated in 1891. The building was remodelled and enlarged in 1917. The many able and devout pastors have been a great influence in the upbuilding of this community.

Later came the General Baptist, the Christian, the Second and Victory Baptist churches, each a pride of, and a power in the community.