In approximately 1869, church services were being held on the banks of the Jessamine Creek near Wilmore, Kentucky at what isnow called Grows Mill Road. There was not enough money to construct aproper building with a roof. The structure consisted of 4 walls andlimbs from the cedar trees in the area were used to make a roof. At thattime, the church was called “The Community Church.” When theassociation for the Methodist denomination came in, the decision wasmade to split the church. The Baptist portion of The Community Churchthen made the decision to purchase land and build, thus the beginning ofCedar Top Baptist Church.
The church commissioned three members,Brothers Horace Rodgers, Price McAfee and Deacon Anderson Lewis topurchase the present property on Scott Street for the sum of $55 cash inhand from Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Wood. The deed was dated the 6th day ofSeptember, 1894. Construction of the current structure began shortlythereafter. However, this was not an easy task to undertake. Big stoneswere pulled from Jessamine Creek to lay the foundation for the building.The rocks were so large they had to be pulled out and carried by oxen.The ground where the rocks were laid was also nothing much but rock--our foundation is rock laid upon rock. Talk about a solid foundation!
Baptismswere held in Jessamine Creek. The congregation would travelapproximately 2-3 miles by foot, wagon, or horseback, singing all theway, to watch a candidate for baptism be taken in the water. Peoplewould line up on the bridge and watch from the road. We are sure thepastors who served here prior to the installation of the baptismal poolbaptized in the creek and assisting several of them was Deacon NoahWeaver. Deacon Weaver would walk into the water carrying a long stick orstaff looking for the best place for baptism.
Serving as firstpastor of Cedar Top was Rev. Jesse Tull, Sr., born in St. Louis,Missouri in 1848. Rev. Tull passed on March 30, 1911
Some of thefounders and original trustees and deacons are: Deacon Samuel Yates ofGlass Mill Road, who transacted as treasurer. Deacon Yates also securedthe lumber for the building of the new church. His son, Sylvester Yates,served as deacon of the church for over 40 years. George WilliamPrentice, who also lived outside the city limits of Wilmore, was anoriginal founder. Anderson Lewis was founder and deacon and owned alarge farm at Glass Mill on Frankfort Ford. Price McAfee, a farmerliving on Glass Mill Road, was a founder and trustee. John B. King,lived on Jessamine Station and was a founder and deacon. George Yateslived on a farm on Grows Mill Road and was a deacon at the time of thefounding of the church. Deacon George Yates also served assuperintendent of the Sunday School for many years. His grand-daughter,Sayde Gray (deceased), served as president of the Progressive Club.
Itwas not until May 5, 1947 that a plot of land was secured from ClarenceHarper by the trustees of Cedar Top Baptist Church for the purpose ofbuilding a parsonage. This land was composed of two lots fronting onehundred four feet on Scott Street and bounded on the north by a lotbelonging to Ben Thompson, on the south a lot owned by Horace Turpin andrunning on the west to the Cincinnati Southern Railway company. Anothertract was secured from the same man fronting the western side of ScottStreet ninety-six feet. This also ran back to the Cincinnati SouthernRailway lines and lay between the other plot and the plot owned byPerkins Chapel Methodist Church. In 1960 the parsonage was built on thelot. Since then, the parsonage has been destroyed by fire.
Thetrustees authorized the pastor, Rev. C.T. Smith and Noah Weaver,McKinley Tull, Theodore R. Prentice, Robert White, Sr., Sylvester Yates,and Percy Yates, Sr. to solicit funds for the purpose of bricking thechurch. The cost would be about $3000.00. The project had been underwayfor forty years and the goal for completion was in time for the firstSunday in August 1966, which is the annual, Homecoming and BasketMeeting.
Under the pastorate of Rev. W.D. Crutcher, constructionbegan to add a basement to the church. It took lots of time and hardwork from all the men (deacons and trustees), as well as the members,family and friends to get this project completed. This serves today asour dining room. Cabinets were installed, tile put down, refrigerator,stove, dining tables and chairs were added.
The Progressive Clubhas been very instrumental in assisting throughout the years withrecurring expenses, building and remodeling. The Progressive Club hasraised a lot of money and worked hard to help the church in any way itcould and continues to carry on as in years past.
Despite herlongevity, Cedar Top has only had 20 pastors, some of who served twoterms as pastor. They are: Reverends J.C. Tull, Harvey Miller, JohnWheeler, Charles Bradshaw, L.J. Vandiver, C.M. Arnold, Haup Thomas, T.M.Tuggle, G.G. Gray, John Willes, James Harris, D.J. Johnson, S.E. Hord,C.C Calloway, W.B. Mills, Floyd Topps, C.T. Smith, W.D. Crutcher, WalterW. Ballinger and Anthony G. Givens, current pastor. Cedar Top has alsohad eight brothers to either be licensed or ordained as ministers. Theyare: J.C. Tull, Jessie Tull, H.E. Baker, G.L. Baker, James M. Baker,Harold Bulter, Lawrence D. Gassett, and Lic. Craig Smith. There havebeen 29 deacons, all are deceased except nine. We have 50 families, 100members, four singing groups, Women's Auxiliary (Missionary Society),Puppet Ministry, children's church, Progressive Club, and Building Fund.
Cedar Top Missionary Baptist Church is a church rich in history.We hope you will visit us sometime!We'd love to meet you!
