Smithland First Baptist Church is located in Livingston County, Kentucky. The church was established in the historic small town of Smithland where the Ohio and Cumberland Rivers converge. The church is conservative in theology but strives to be progressive in our methods to reach an ever-changing culture. Our doors are open for all people, especially those who want to know more about God, grow in their Christian walk, and find fellowship and encouragement. Smithland First Baptist Church is affliated with the Ohio River Baptist Association, Kentucky Baptist Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention.
PURPOSE:
Smithland First Baptist Church ( that desires to:
S – SHARE JESUS
F – FELLOWSHIP
B – BUILD UP
C –
In the year our nation was celebrating a centennial for the U.S. Constitution, there was something monumental happening in Smithland that touched the lives of many people.In September 1887, brother H.H. Hibbs, a licentiate preacher, and Elder B.T. Taylor, one of the greatest preachers of his time, were carrying on a protracted meeting. This meeting was held in the county courthouse. With the leadership of God, at the close of the meeting, on Sept. 28, rev. H.H. Hibbs and Elder B.T. Taylor brought the following Christians of like faith and order into a council and organized a Baptist church.
CHARTER MEMBERS: J.K. HUEYALICEHERY; LUCINDA STEWART; FLORENCE STEWART; LULA ADAMS; S.C. TAYLOR; C.M. MORRIS; R.P. MORRIS; GEORGIA ANN MORRIS; BEULA D. MORRIS; MARY B. TAYLOR; ELDER B.T. TAYLOR; H.H. HIBBS; Mrs. Jane Ann Taylor and others became members at the next meeting of the church on September 30, 1887. The first pastor was ELDER B.T. TAYLOR.
Smithland First Baptist Church Building Dedication and Flood of 1913
Because of the fact there is no record of the dedication of the church building now in use by this church, which was erected on the corner of Court and Adair streets in this city, Smithland has no record of the great flood in 1913. At a regular meeting in May, 1937, the church elected an undersigned committee and gave it authority to write as good a record of all the happenings as possible at this date. To insert the record at the proper place in order to have a record of this church as near the date of the said dedication as possible, and in view of that authority, the following was written, signed, and inserted. By redoing the record of this church entered on the 20th day of February 1913, it is observed that the church voted to dedicate this building as it was it was new, and of recent construction.
On the 4th Sunday in March 1913, provided by the services of Dr. W.D. Powell, of Louisville, KY, who was the State Mission Secretary, the church was dedicated. Rev. W.C. Pierce, being the church pastor was authorized to communicate with Bro. Powell and later to report to the church whether or not the said services could be obtained.We are inclined to believe this was done, for this church was dedicated and set apart for the service of God on the said 4th Sunday of March, 1913. Each member of this committee was then a member of this church and present at the said dedication and the Rev. Dr. Powell preached the dedication sermon. On this occasion, dinner was served by the Church to a great number of people in the old church room, where the church had been worshipping since its organization, in the lower room of the Masonic Building on Courth Street near the river.This was before the days of good roads in Livingston County and the main means or source of travel was by boats that plied the Ohio and Cumberland rivers. Dr. Powell came by way of Paducah and from there to Smithland by boat, arriving on Saturday afternoon before the dedication. Arriving at about 4 o'clock on said afternoon on the steamer "Ohio". He was met at the boat landing by the building committee, which was composed of the following members: David Adams, Chairman of the committee, W.C. Pierce, R.B. Cowper, S.C. Taylor and H.F. Green. From there they proceeded to the Courthouse for a conference in the office of H.F. Green, who was then Clerk of the Circuit Court. There, prayer was first offered and talks made with reference to the $2,500 that needed to be raised before the house could be dedicated. Before the conference and committee dispersed, the members of the committee had pledged $1,800 of the total amount.
March 28th, 1913: A large crowd assembled at the church and Dr. W.D. Powell made a strong appeal for the needed money to pay all the bills. In a short time all of said money was either paid or securely pledged and the dedicatory sermon was preached.On the day of this dedication the Ohio and Cumberland rivers were quite full and rising rapidly, though not in the town. This continued for days and on the first Sunday in April, the waters had covered a great portion of the town, and had driven many families from their homes. The water on this date was six inches deep upon the floor of the church, which had been dedicated just a week before. This was the high peak of that flood and the highest ever recorded in Smithland to date. It was four inches above the high water mark set in 1884.The church was beautifully furnished, and when the members saw the danger of water getting into the church, many of the members gathered there and built scaffolds. The scaffolds were strong & high enough to care for all the furniture. The members placed all benches, chairs, tables, books, and carpets on top of the scaffold. In this way, every piece and parcel of the church furnishings were preserved, and after the water receded, members cleaned the house, replaced all furniture, and everything was again in readiness for the usual and regular services.
