On November 4th, 1842, a meeting was held at the residence of Squire G. Scott for the purpose of consulting and taking into consideration the propriety of constituting a Baptist church in the town of Burlington. The meeting was organized by electing Elder Robert Kirtley, moderator, and G. H. Scott, clerk.

     At this meeting it was agreed to ask the advice and council of the neighboring churches, as to the desirableness of the object contemplated; S. C. Scott and G. H. Scott were thereupon appointed to visit the [Baptist] churches at Bullittsburg and Middle Creek and lay the matter before them.

     A second meeting was held November 14th, at which time reports of endorsement and encouragement were received from the churches at Bullittsburg and Middle Creek. The moderator, Elder Robert Kirtley, called for an "expression of mind" from the brethren and sisters present. "Which" says the record, "was given with much freedom." The appropriate remarks of Sister Armstrong and Sister Percival sank deep in every heart, and brought forth a flow of love and thanksgiving to Almighty God."

     According to appointment, on the 13th day of December, 1842, delegates from the following churches: Bullittsburg, Middle Creek, Sand Run, East Bend and First Covington, met in the court house in the town of Burlington, and after the usual religious services recognized the following named brethren and sisters as the Baptist Church of Christ at Burlington, Kentucky: Randal[l] Latimer, John M. Garnett, Squire G. Scott, George H. Scott, Perryander C. Scott, Benjamin Cave, Mills Wilkes, Lucy Wilkes, Sarah Percival, Nancy Scott, Mary A. E. Scott, Clarissa Hamilton, Catherine Kerrick, Elizabeth A. Ranald, Maria Armstrong and Lucinda Berkshire [17]. The church was constituted upon, and published as their articles of faith, the compendium of Scripture known as the Philadelphia Confession of Faith.

     At the second meeting of the church, on the 3rd Saturday in January, 1843, J. B. Porter, a licensed minister from Henry County, was received and authorized to exercise his gifts among them. Squire G. Scott was chosen moderator for the church and Randall Latimer was chosen clerk. The church was resolved at this meeting to build a house of worship and S. G. Scott, R. Latimer, J. M. Garnett abnd G. H. Scott were appointed a committee to take the matter in charge.

     At the meeting in March, 1843, P. C. Scott and G. H. Scott were licensed by the church to exercise their gifts in preaching the Gospel.

     On Sunday, May 14th of this year, Mills Wilkes was ordained the first deacon of the church, who continued to discharge with singular fidelity the duties of the office until August, 1866. He not only a good man and Christian, but a good and faithful deacon. At the July meeting the church agreed by letter and messenger to apply for membership in the North Bend Association, assuring the association of their sympathy and co-operation in all the objects and aims of the body.

     The first protracted meeting of the church was held in November of this year (1843), which resulted in added strength and encouragement to the church. The following ministers were present and participated in this meeting: R. T. Dillard, J. D. Black, Robert Kirtley, William Whitaker, King Solving and Francis Craig.

     On the 3rd Saturday in May, 1844, the church met for the first time in their new meeting house, a plain but commodious brick building, which had cost besides the bell, stoves and lamps (which were purchased by the sisters) the sum of $1,939.84.

     In their letter to the association this year, mention was made of the fact, "That they have regular preaching once a month and regular social meetings once a week." In October, 1844, Randall Latimer resigned as clerk and Lewis Webb, a member of the church at Sand Run, by invitation of the church, acted as clerk pro tem until September, 1849, at which time W. H. Buckner was elected to that office.

     Up to the year 1846 the church seems to have made no regular call for a pastor, though Elder Robert Kirtley had regularly supplied them, preaching once a month, and was recognized by the church as its pastor. In fact the church had seldom been without preaching every Sabbath up to this time; in conjunction with Elder Kirtley, Elders Drury, Whitaker, P. C. Scott, J. A. Kirtley, and G. H. Scott had at one time or another preached for the church. In November of this year, Elder J. A. Kirtley, having moved into town, accepted the unanimous call of the church to become their pastor, preaching two Sabbaths in each month.

     On Monday, the 23rd of August, 1847, the church in conjunction with a council composed of brethren from the following churches: Bullittsburg, Dry Creek, Middle Creek, Sand Run, East Bend, First Covington and Big Bone, ordained to the Gospel ministry Perryander C. Scott. The Presbytery was composed of Elders John L. Waller, Robert Kirtley, William Whitaker, J.. M. Frost, and J. A. Kirtley. At this same meeting the pastor Elder J. A. Kirtley resigned, having "from a sense of duty" accepted a call to the pastoral charge of the Baptist church at Madison, Indiana. Elder Robert Kirtley was again the recognized pastor of the church, the duties of which office he continued to discharge until September, 1850, when at his urgent request he was released from the pastoral care of the church, having given them his faithful, vigilant care ever since the organization of the church.

     Upon the resignation of Elder Kirtley, Elder P. C. Scott was chosen as pastor, serving one year. In December of this year [1850] a call was made by the church upon the neighboring churches for a general conference to consider the destitution of ministerial labor in the bounds of the association. The meeting was held but no definite steps, it seems, were ever taken to supply the destitution.

     In January, 1852, Elder J. A. Kirtley having returned to the county, was again called to the pastoral care of the church.

     In April of this year the church was sorely bereaved in the tragic death of their beloved brother and pastor, Elder P. C. Scott, a sketch of whose useful life appears upon the record book of the church [see biographies].

     In June, 1854, John Cave was appointed clerk of the church in place of W. Buckner, who resigned. Brother Cave continued clerk of the church until his death on September 20th, 1859, 

     In November, 1854, the church enjoyed a gracious revival of religion, the first they had experienced for several years. During the protracted meeting held by the church at this time, seventeen persons were added to their membership, some of whom are today the most useful members of the church.

     In November, 1856, the church was again blessed with an ingathering of souls; eleven persons having united with the church since the meeting in September.

     At the meeting in June, 1858, Elder James Vickers accepted the invitation of the church to preach to them once a month for the ensuing year.

     At the November meeting in 1859, John H. Smith was ordained a deacon of the church, who continues to serve with great fidelity and acceptance.

     In December, 1861, S. B. Huey was elected clerk of the church in place of J. F. Smith who resigned.

     In June, 1864, Elder R. E. Kirtley was invited to preach for the church one Sabbath each month; the invitation was accepted by Bro. Kirtley and he continued to preach for the church regularly until ___.

     In November, 1865, the church granted the use of their meeting house to certain "citizens of the town for the purpose of holding a Sabbath School."

     November, 1866, S. B. Huey resigned as clerk of the church and D. Herndon Lindsay was chosen in his stead, who served until August, 1867, when he resigned and was succeeded by E. E. Utz, who still discharges the duties of that office [1881].

     At the meeting in March, 1871, R. Graves, who had some time previous been licensed at Bullittsburg Baptist Church, was invited by the church to preach for them one Sabbath in each month. In the following February, 1872, by a call of the church Bro. Graves was ordained to the full work of the ministry; J. A. Kirtley, R. E. Kirtley, I. T. J. Stephenson and O. P. Meeks composed the Presbytery.

     On December 14th, 1877, the church was bereaved of one of her deacons, a most useful and exemplary member, F. Smith.

     At the meeting in February, 1879, the church took up and discussed the propriety of organizing a Sunday School; after a full discussion of the subject, it was agreed to organize the school, which was accordingly done by electing John B. Roberts as superintendent; which office he still holds with credit and profit to the church. Though this was the first school ever maintained by the church, still many members had long been teachers and workers in a Union Sunday School held in town. In the following May, Bro. Roberts was also ordained a deacon of the church.

     In December, 1879, Elder J. A. Kirtley, after twenty-eight years of faithful, zealous and untiring labor, resigned the pastoral care of the church. With sorrow and reluctance the church accepted the resignation of Elder Kirtley, and proceeded to extend a call to Elder A. M. Vardiman, to serve them as pastor, preaching two Sabbaths each month; this relation has been continued until the present time.

     We have thus given the merest outline of the history of the church; her struggles and triumphs in maintaining a pure Gospel, amid strong semi-infidel opinions and influences, are doubtless recorded on high. In the glorious light of eternity, it will then appear what this church, once despised, and never strong in number, has done for the honor of God and the salvation of men.

     We cannot close this brief sketch without referring to one, the oldest living member of the church, and who for nearly forty years has given to it his first and best endeavor. Standing upon the shores of time, our venerable and beloved brother, John P. Scott, may look back over a life well spent, and await the message that shall call him home.

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[From the North Bend Baptist Association Minutes, 1881, pp. 9-12. These records are on microfilm at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Library, Louisville, KY. Transcribed and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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