The history of this Church, for a period of seventy-eight years from its organization, having been carefully and faithfully written by our beloved pastor, Dr. J. A. Kirtley, and, by request of the North Bend Association, published in pamphlet form, with the biographies of four of our oldest ministers, we deem it only necessary to reproduce the briefest outline of that period, merely to keep before the mind of the hearer or reader, the continuity of history through the century.

     We find, from the history of this earlier period, that the Church was organized in June, 1794, by Elders John Taylor, Joseph Redding and William Cave. The following members, viz: Lewis Deweese, Chichester Matthews, John Hall, Joseph Smith, Elizabeth Hall, Agnes Matthews and Leannah Smith, uniting in covenant relations, and on the basis of doctrine as set forth in the Philadelphia confession of faith, were recognized and declared to be the Baptist Church of Christ at Bullittsburg.

     From the beginning, the Church had, within her own membership, the means of instruction and edification. Deweese and Matthews both became useful ministers of the gospel. They conducted the worship of God. Deweese was licensed to preach, and Matthews was ordained a Deacon. Taylor removed to this outpost of civilization, the next spring, and, by invitation of the Church, became her first pastor.

     The membership of the Church, for several years, was increased, mainly, by emigration -- only four were received by baptism in six years. During the years 1800 and 1801, the Church enjoyed a very great revival. Seventy-nine were received by experience for baptism in 1800. In 1801, fifty-seven. In 1802, sixteen. Comparatively few from this time on, until the year 1811. In 1802, Taylor moved to another field of labor. Deweese was ordained in 1797, but removed to Ohio in 1810. Christopher Wilson commenced preaching, and was ordained in 1807. Deweese and Wilson labored jointly in the Church.

     About the time of the removal of Deweese, Thomas Henderson settled in the vicinity, and became a member at Bullittsburg; and, by invitation of the Church, become associated with Wilson in preaching. In December, 1810, two young ladies were received for baptism. A great demonstration of the Spirit's presence and power was manifested in the beginning of the year, 1811. On the first Saturday and Lord's day in January, twenty-one were received for baptism, and at almost every succeeding meeting, for many months, there were additions. By the first of November one hundred and seventy were added to the membership.

     In the ten years intervening between these two great revivals, Bullittsburg had colonized six vigorous churches in the rapidly growing communities around her. A number of young ministers had gone out to settle, and labor in other fields. Absalom Graves and Chichester Matthews were now engaged in the ministry. They were ordained in 1812. Wilson and Henderson had settled in other fields. Wilson, with twenty-three other members, united in the organization of the Forks of Gunpowder Church.

     The Church moved on in her aggressive work of evangelization, though her territory was greatly diminished. She maintained, with steadfastness, the faith and fellowship of the Gospel. Graves and Matthews were modest and unassuming men; yet, earnest, spiritually-minded and faithful. The Gospel had free course, and was glorified. During the latter part of the year 1817, and the first part of 1818, one hundred and sixty-five persons were received for baptism.

     In July, 1819, James Dicken and Robert Kirtley were licensed to preach the Gospel. Dicken was ordained in 1820, and Robert Kirtley, in 1822.

     Matthews, with ninety-four other members from Bullittsburg, united in the organization of the Sand Run Church in 1819. Under the joint labors of Graves, Dicken and Kirtley, the Church enjoyed another gracious and extensive revival in the latter part of 1823 to August 1824, during which time there were one hundred and eighteen additions by baptism.

     In 1826, the hand of the Lord was laid heavily on the Church and community by the death of Dicken and Graves. A great responsibility rested upon Elder Robert Kirtley; but, vigorous in mind and body, full of the spirit, with renewed zeal and unfaltering trust, he bent his energies to the work, and, under his long, able and wise ministration, the Church enjoyed great prosperity. Her discipline, as in the past, was rigid and impartial -- maintained with unshrinking firmness and vigilance. While a majority ruled, the feelings and views of individuals and minorities were treated with respect and due deference. Disorderly and refractory members were promptly dealt with.

     After this great revival the Church sustained a great loss in her membership, by death, removal and exclusion. There were valuable additions, particularly in 1832 and 1838. During the period from November, 1823 to October, 1839, sixty-one members were excluded, one hundred and seventy-nine dismissed by letter (the most of them as emigrants to the West), and seventy-nine deceased, making a total loss of three hundred and nine; yet, having membership of one hundred and ninety-eight.

     In October, 1839, Robert E. Kirtley and James A. Kirtley were received and baptized on the first Lord's day in November. During the following months, to the first of July, 1840, fifty-seven were received for baptism.

     In 1842, "James A. Kirtley was licensed by the Church to preach wherever God, in His providence, cast his lot." On the first Lord's day in October, 1844, he was ordained to the work of the ministry. This year being the fiftieth anniversary of his ordination. His membership was here, and he was associated with his father in the pastoral relation until September, 1847, when, until July, 1851, he was pastor in the cities of Madison, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky.

     In 1842 the Church enjoyed another refreshing sea-son from the presence of the Lord, when forty-seven were added to her membership. From 1842 to 1853, she enjoyed peace and prosperity, except that the hand of death was again laid heavily upon her in the removal of some of her best members.

     In 1853 the Church was again visited by a stirring revival of religion, when fifty-four souls were added to her number, mainly under the preaching of Bro. J. A. Kirtley, who, at this time, though not formerly connected with the pastoral work, yet having his membership here, and living near at hand, labored in all the extra meetings of the Church, and frequently at other times. Early in 1855, the Church called him indefinitely to the pastoral relation, to be associated with his venerable father now sixty-nine years of age.

     In September, 1859, Bro. A. C. Graves was licensed to preach the Gospel, and ordained in September, 1860, since which time he has been a useful and efficient laborer in the Master's cause.

     In the closing months of 1860, the Church enjoyed another refreshing season, when nineteen converts were added to her number.

     In 1865, Elder Robert E. Kirtley, having returned from the State of Missouri, was invited to preach one Sabbath in each month, which he did in an acceptable and profitable manner.

     In the months of September and October, 1871, the Church was greatly revived and strengthened by a series of meetings in which the pastor was assisted by the able ministry of our greatly esteemed brother, Elder W. H. Felix, then the pastor of the First Church in Covington. There were sixteen additions to the Church.

     On the ninth of April, 1872, Elder Robert Kirtley, in his eighty-sixth year, closed his earthly course, after having been, for sixty-one years, a member of this Church, and laboring in the pastoral work for half a century. The father and grandfather of ministers, this grand, old veteran in Zion's warfare, amid the tears of kindred, the grief of friends and the profound respect of all who knew him, lays his armor by. But a short time afterwards, viz: at the regular business meeting in August, the Church, with great unanimity and solicitude, licensed two of his grandson, Eusebius Kirtley and James S. Kirtley, together with Bro. John Sebree, to exercise their gifts in preaching and exhorting.

     We now reach the date to which the former history was brought; September, 1872. During the remainder of this and the two following years, the Church mourned the loss of many valued members by death. A considerable number were also dismissed by letter to unite with other churches. The Church enjoyed peace, harmony and a good measure of prosperity.

     The Sunday School continued through the entire year with zeal and interest, a number of brethren and sisters being active and efficient teachers. The prayer meetings were interesting and fairly well attended.

     In October, 1872, Bro. John Winston was set apart as Deacon.

     Under the regular ministrations of the Word, in the months of 1873, through the year 1874, and the early part of 1875, quite a number of members were received by baptism.

     In 1875, Bro Thos. Graves, one of our honored Deacons and Church Clerk, was, with his wife, dismissed by letter to unite with the church at Carrollton. Bro. John Sebree was appointed Clerk in his stead. The Church looked after her delinquent members, and such as walked disorderly, reclaiming some and excluding others.

     The year 1876 being anticipated as the centennial of the first publication of the Gospel in Kentucky, and being recommended by the General Association of Kentucky Baptists, that a Special Thank Offering unto the Lord for Missions and the endowment of our institutions of higher learning, be made by our people. Bullittsburg, in October, 1875, appointed a special Centennial committee to collect funds for the above objects. The effort was attended with fair success. Over one hundred dollars was collected, independent of our regular contributions for Missions; and, notwithstanding a number of our members had already given bonds for the endowment of the Theological Seminary at Louisville.

     In April, 1876, the pastor, assisted by Bro. L. H. Salin, whose preaching was highly appreciated by the Church and by the community, conducted a meeting of special interest, in which eight persons were received by baptism.

     In June, 1876, Bro. Noah Sebree was ordained to the office of Deacon. In November a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer was observed by the Church.

     The Church appointed Bro. Thomas Grant Superintendent of the Sunday School, in March, 1877, and other officers of the school.

     In May, 1877, Eusebius Kirtley, who, during the prosecution of his studies in college, had been preaching with growing favor among the churches, was ordained to the work of the Gospel ministry. About this time the Church made needful repairs to her house of worship, and through the following months a number of deaths occurred among her membership. In the closing months of the year the Church was again visited by a gracious revival and ingathering of souls. The pastor secured the valuable services of Bro. W. H. Felix, whose preaching was "in demonstration of the Spirit and power." Eighteen persons were received by baptism. The Church was much strengthened.

     In March, 1878, Bro. John Sebree, having resigned as Clerk, Bro Thomas F. Grant was appointed in his stead. N. S. Walton appointed agent for the Western Recorder. The Church, as her custom was, and still is, reorganized her Sunday School by the appointment of officers for the year, and it is only necessary to say that brethren Thomas Grant and John Cropper have been the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent from then until the present time. During this and the following year, death made its inroads upon the membership, dismissals by letter also frequently occurred, and a few more received by baptism at the regular meetings.

     In November, 1879, Bro. J. S. Kirtley, now, of St. Louis, was ordained to the work of the ministry. In the close of this year and the beginning of 1880, aided by the earnest and efficient ministry of Bro. A. M. Vardiman, the pastor conducted a meeting of much interest, in which twenty persons were received by baptism. The Church was animated with renewed zeal and spiritual activity. The Gospel was preached with much earnestness and faithfulness, church work prosecuted with commendable activity and efficiency, the Sunday School and Prayer Meeting maintained. Yet, no marked variation from the ordinary course of church life occurred until near the close of 1884.

     It may be remarked that in 1882 the Church ordered shade trees to be set out on her grounds, the benefit of which we are now beginning to reap.

     A standing committee was appointed to collect funds for the Orphans' Home, and twenty dollars a year have been regularly forwarded to the Home, besides other gifts and cash contributions by her members at the Association. The Church agreed to take up a monthly collection for current expenses, and afterwards decided to take them at every regular meeting.

     In September, 1883, the North Bend Association held her eighty-first session with this Church.

     In December, 1883, Bro. James T. Grant was released from the office of Deacon. In August, 1884, Bro. John Cropper was ordained to the office of Deacon. In November of the same year Bro. Eusebius Kirtley , then pastor of the church at Vevay, Indiana, assisted his father in a meeting of marked interest and profit, during which fourteen were added to the Church by baptism. As this young brother had gone out from us a Minister of Gospel, the Church and community felt great interest in his earnest, evangelical preaching, but was soon called, in the midst of his growing usefulness, to lament his death, which occurred the 8th of November, 1885.

     Again in the fall of 1886, the Church enjoyed another season of refreshing and ingathering. Bro. S. Burgess aided the pastor in this series of meetings, with his earnest and faithful preaching, during which twenty-four persons were received by baptism and two by letter.

     The Church adopted a recommendation of the Association, and appointed an efficient standing committee of brethren and sisters to collect money for missions, to be paid over, quarterly, to the Executive Board. Annually the Church has pursued this plan, and reported from one hundred and ten to one hundred and forty dollars for missions, exclusive of contributions to the Orphans' Home, Students' Fund, Ministers' Aid, and the building of houses of worship.

     The Church moved on in the even tenor of church life and work for many months. Members were received by letter, others also dismissed, occasionally one received by experience for baptism, and deaths often recorded. The Gospel in its purity and simplicity was faithfully proclaimed, and an affectionate watchcare exercised over her membership.

     In October, 1887, assisted by Bro. P. T. Hale, of Danville, whose preaching was blessed and highly appreciated, our pastor conducted a meeting of great interest, during which sixteen persons were added to the Church by baptism. The Church was greatly strengthened, and the cause advanced. The pastor, and the brethren accompanying him to the Jubilee Meeting in Louisville, held October 20-23, 1887, were appointed to receive the elegant pulpit Bible presented to the Church by Dr. W. H. Whitsitt, as a memorial of their long connection as pastor and people, and to express the grateful sentiments of this Church.

     In November, 1888, steps were taken by this Church to further the cause in Petersburg, where some of our members and other Baptists resided. An arm of the Church was extended, the organization of a Sunday School and Prayer Meeting encouraged, and needful aid extended in meeting expenses.

     A committee consisting of brethren John Cropper and N. S. Walton was appointed to raise money to aid in building our house of worship in Erlanger. Substantial aid was given.

     Along through these closing years, as in the past, the Church has endeavored to keep up a Scriptural discipline, and maintain Gospel order throughout her Church life and among her membership, to strengthen the weak and aid the afflicted.

     In November, 1890, the pastor, aided by our young, neighboring pastors, Bros. T. L. Utz and O. M. Huey, who had grown up under his ministry, and whose valuable services were both recognized and appreciated, conducted a meeting in which the Church was stirred up and revived, and during which there were thirteen additions to the Church by baptism, four by relation and one restored. Since then a few have been received, from time to time, by baptism.

     In 1891, Bro. John Winston was released from the office of Deacon, and in February of the present year Bro. Thomas Grant was set apart to that office.

     The Church feels that she is making but slow progress in holy living, and maintaining but a feeble growth, but, by the grace of God, she holds on her way, "striving together to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," and to maintain and further "the faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints."

     The record during the century sums up the following results: Received by experience and baptism, eleven hundred and seventy souls; colonized eight churches; licensed twenty-seven of her members to preach the Gospel; ordained sixteen ministers and twenty-one deacons, and appointed fourteen clerks.

     This year is the one-hundredth anniversary of the Church. It is also the fiftieth anniversary of the ordination of our pastor, and the fortieth anniversary of his pastoral connection with this Church. In sunshine and in storm, in the winter's cold and the summer's heat, in health, in sickness and in death, he has been promptly and faithfully at his post of duty.

     For these many years we have stood together, and God has blessed the relation. To His name be all the glory.

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[This history first appeared in the Northbend Baptist Association Minutes, 1894, pages 13-18. It was later published as a booklet and is available at the Boone County Library, Local History Section, Union, KY, 41091. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]

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