A History of
Boone's Creek Baptist Church

Foreword

Histories are written by the people who live them, and are recorded by those who wish to learn from the experiences of their forebearers something about the legacy they have inherited. Those persons who are members of Boone's Creek Baptist Church in its 200th year can take comfort in the knowledge that theirs is a rich tradition, made so by the faith, determination, courage, and character of those who passed this way since 1785.

While the church has certainly had its tedious times and moments of contention, the Lord has never left its side, and it stands today in this community as a monument to what the will of God can do when His people accept that will and follow His pathway.

Looking for a Haven (1785–1839)

The story of Boone's Creek Baptist Church begins long before 1785 — with the Baptist tradition itself taking root in colonial America. Roger Williams (1636) and Dr. John Clarke (1638) established the first permanent Baptist churches in America in Rhode Island, where they had fled to escape persecution. Early Virginia Baptists faced imprisonment and harassment as they spread their faith westward.

Daniel Boone — born in Pennsylvania to a Quaker family — led settlers through the Cumberland Gap in 1775, establishing Boonesboro on the Kentucky River. When harassed by Native Americans, he moved his settlement in late December 1779 to the mouth of Boone's Creek, about a half-mile from the present church site, near the village of Cross Plains (later renamed Athens).

"Eighteen people, including Daniel Boone's brother Samuel and wife Sarah, joined together on the second Sunday of November in 1785 to form Boone's Creek Baptist Church."

Other founders included Boone's cousin William Scholl and wife Leah, Robert Fryer, George Shortige, Turner Crump, John Morgan, James Hazelrigg, Kizziah Shortige, Margaret Shortige, Grace Jones, Elizabeth Hazelrigg, and four unnamed members believed to be enslaved persons. The congregation was organized by Elders John Taylor and John Tanner.

Samuel Boone was born in 1728 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, married Sarah Day — a Quakeress — and eventually made his way to Kentucky in 1779. Sarah Boone is credited with teaching her brother-in-law Daniel to read and write. Samuel died in 1816 and is buried on Gentry Road at Boone's Station.

First Pastors and Early Growth

Elder John Tanner, likely the first pastor, held to a "hyper-Calvinist" theology. A revival in 1787 ironically led to a split — 19 members departed to form Marble Creek Church (now East Hickman Baptist Church). Elder David Thompson followed as pastor, serving until about 1811.

The early church also functioned as a kind of local court and legislature, addressing members for charges of dancing, drunkenness, fighting, and other moral offenses. Enslaved members were admitted to fellowship based on their salvation testimonies. In 1811, a doctrinal dispute over one Absalom Bainbridge divided the congregation into two groups who shared the building until reunification around 1835.

Finding a Niche (1840–1877)

Upon reunification of Boone's Creek and Boggs' Fork congregations around 1835, the combined congregation adopted a new covenant pledging unity under the New and Old Testaments. Combined membership exceeded 100 members.

Key Milestones

• 1841–1842: Edward Darnaby called as pastor, followed by Buford E. Allen, who served nearly 20 years.
• 1843–1847: A new brick church building (45×50 feet, 15-ft ceilings) was constructed and dedicated in 1847. The old log building was sold.
• 1845: The cemetery behind the church was established.
• 1870: First formal mission activity — the congregation began contributing to association missionary support.
• 1875: Membership reached 144 (83 female, 61 male); a centennial committee of four women was formed.
• 1876: A Committee on Home Missions was formed with $24.
• 1883: The first foreign mission gift was made ($15); Sunday School was formalized with William T. Barker as superintendent.

Spreading the Good News (1888–1985)

The late nineteenth century brought dynamic pastoral leadership and genuine revival to Boone's Creek. Rev. J. Pike Powers (1888–1889) held evangelistic meetings that resulted in 55 conversions, swelling the membership to over 160. The following decade was marked by severe financial hardship — collections rarely exceeded $2.77 and the pastor's annual salary hovered around $400.

The Twentieth Century

The 1920s brought brief renewal under Brother John Stallings and then Paul C. Luttrell (1921–1924), who published the Athens Baptist Messenger, a monthly church newspaper. But the 1930s saw the most damaging chapter in the church's history: a major split between factions led to a court case in Fayette Circuit Court. A judge-appointed referee divided Sunday usage between the two groups — a conflict that lingered into the 1940s.

The Mahanes Era (1940–1973)

Lloyd Mahanes became pastor on March 31, 1940, and served for 33 years — the longest tenure in the church's history. He healed the factionalism, launched a bus ministry, expanded the music program, and began a weekly newsletter. Under his leadership, a new church building was constructed between 1959–1965, with the new auditorium dedicated on April 4, 1965. The construction note was ceremonially burned on August 19, 1973.

Into the Modern Era

• 1975–1979: W.B. Casey — described as a "talented teacher and leader and superior Bible scholar." He later served on the foreign mission field in Zambia.
• 1981–1989: Wendell Romans — rejuvenated the congregation; financial stability was restored, and Sunday School averaged 180–200.
• 2020–present: Timothy Wade — current Senior Pastor, committed to proclaiming the gospel and strengthening the people of God.

"Simple but pure belief in God and His almighty power and wisdom brought 18 frightened but trusting pioneers together on the second Sunday of November in 1785, and that same faith sustains us today as we celebrate their legacy."

Pastors of Boone's Creek Baptist Church Since 1785