In April 20, 1924, a group of twenty dedicated Christians from the Felix Memorial Baptist Church first gathered together to organize a Baptist Church on the north side of Lexington. The fruition of their prayers and efforts was the organization of Grace Baptist Church on July 17, 1924. The Constitution and By-Laws were ready for approval at the August 6, 1924, business meeting. On September 3, 1924, Grace Baptist Church was accepted as a member of the Elkhorn Baptist Association. At first, the group met in individual homes adjacent to the area where Grace is now located, but eventually they rented space for Sunday School and worship at the Ross Memorial Presbyterian Chapel on Louden Avenue. The first permanent pastor, the Reverend Paul C. Luttrell, a native of Owen County and a graduate of Georgetown College, was extended the “call” on September 10, 1924. Grace Baptist Church, consisting of only 58 members, had begun the “spiritual pilgrimage “that continues, even today, as we embrace the new challenges of the 21st Century.
Almost immediately, Grace decided to explore the possibility of acquiring a permanent location; and, by January 1, 1925, the church had already purchased a lot on the corner of Louden Avenue and Bryan Station Pike, currently known as Bryan Avenue. The total purchase price was $1,100 dollars, with a remaining balance of only $300 in “uncollected” funds at the time of purchase. Later, a church member donated $501 for the purchase of an adjacent lot, and a basement was constructed at a cost of about $5,000 to temporarily serve the needs of the congregation until a permanent sanctuary could be built. When Reverend Luttrel resigned on September 12, 1928, the membership at Grace had grown to 215 members.
Reverend W. L. Shearer’s tenure as Grace Baptist Church’s pastor began on the first Sunday of February in 1929 and lasted for 18 years. As had been true with Grace’s first pastor, Reverend Shearer has also graduated from Georgetown College, but had also attended Louisville Theological Seminary and had served as a pastor for churches in Stamping Ground and Burgin.
Reverend Shearer “shepherded” Grace through some of her “…best of times…worst of times…” The cornerstone of the new $30,000 sanctuary was laid on March 30, 1930; and on April 30th of that same year, the church voted to purchase the ornate stained glass windows that still illuminates the sanctuary to this day. Would it have been possible for church members to anticipate 79 years ago that $990 could provide such beauty and comfort on a typical spring day?
Because of The Great Depression, completion and dedication of the new building were not fully realized until five years later on May 12, 1935. The optimism, joy, and thanksgiving of that day, however, turned into tragedy and despair on January 22, 1943, when a devastating fire almost totally destroyed the new sanctuary, leaving only the four walls standing. Rebuilding the “fledgling” church would cost an amount “not to exceed $27, 000,” and the Castlewood Gymnasium would serve as an interim meeting place for three years.
In spite of all these hardships, Grace Baptist Church’s membership had “blossomed” to 1,150 members by the time of Rev. Shearer’s retirement on May 31, 1947. Another of the “milestones”
of the late 1940’s was the addition of the pipe organ. Purchased for $3,000 in 1946, the pipe organ was recently assessed as having a replacement value of $150,183. The reverberations of the original organ still resound throughout the building on a regular basis. Grace is one of a very few churches of its size that can “boast” of having such a musical instrument.
Dr. George M. Trout, the associate pastor at the time, was appointed as the new pastor following Rev. Shearer’s resignation. A graduate of Bryan University in Dayton, Tennessee, Brother Trout has also attended Carson-Newman College and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. This picture of him and his wife Sally was taken at their 50th Wedding Anniversary.
Under Dr. Trout’s leadership, Grace Baptist church purchased additional property and launched a building campaign which culminated with the dedication of the new three story $57,000 Educational Annex Building on November 7, 1954.
In 1956, Grace Baptist was led to organize a mission known as High-Acres, which mew at a fellow church member’s home. This mission, now known as North View Baptist Church, is located at 1742 Bryan Station Road. In addition, the worship services were enhanced in the 1960’s through the purchase of a new $1,395 Yamaha Baby Grand piano and a central air-conditioning system for the sanctuary. At the culmination of Brother Trout’s ministry in 1966, the Sunday school enrollment had grown to 1,500 members, and church membership had soared to 2,350.
Reverend Joseph Tackett, native of Owen County, graduate of Bryant & Stratton College, and graduate of Southern Baptist Seminary, began his ministry at Grace on January 15, 1967. He and his wife Emma faithfully served Grace for 16 years, until his retirement in 1983. During his tenure, several church members founded another sister church, Russell Cave Baptist Church, now located at 3179 Russell Cave Road in Lexington. Under Brother Tackett’s leadership, Grace purchased additional surrounding property, expanded the parking facilities, purchased a new parsonage, purchased Grace’s first church bus, and embarked on a massive $260,000 renovation/remodeling project. The newly renovated building was dedicated on August 20, 1972. Following his retirement as pastor, both Emma and “Brother Joe” continued to make Grace their church home and to serve the Lord faithfully as members. In 2008 “Brother Joe” went home to be with the Lord. “Miss Emma,” as she was affectionately known, passed away in 2013.
Reverend Terrance Freeman, along with his wife Beverly, began his ministry in August 1984.
Terry’s ministry training included and undergraduate degree from Middle Tennessee State University and both a “Master of Divinity” and a “Doctor of Divinity” degree from Vanderbilt University.
Terry’s faithful 23 year ministry included the acquisition of additional property for the future of Grace Baptist, and the implementation of the weekly “Feed the Hungry “program in conjunction with the Elkhorn Baptist Association. One of Terry’s most significant accomplishments, however, included a major building renovation and construction of a massive education addition which now accommodates conference rooms, the Sunday School Department, the church nursery, and the church offices. Terry retired on September 9, 2007.
After months of searching Grace moved forward with Pastor David Smith.
Pastor Smith served from October 2009 until his departure in November 2012.
In March 2013, Steven R. Price began his tenure as Grace’s seventh pastor.
Steve, and his wife Pat, both native Kentuckians, joined Grace in December 2011. Immediately, they began serving in volunteer capacities. Steve is a graduate of Transylvania University, and he received his Master of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary. He comes to Grace with a long history of church service and ministry, having served on staff at Georgetown Baptist Church as Organist and Worship Coordinator for more than seventeen years. He also was a Deacon for twelve of those years. It was during this period that Steve sensed God’s call to attend seminary and pursue full-time ministry.
Pat works diligently with the children of Grace, and all the kids love “Miss Pat!”
Steve and Pat have one daughter, Rebecca, who is an attorney.
For more information about Grace, please view the Grace Baptist Church Constitution & By-Laws.