Cedar Top Baptist Church

In approximately 1869, church services were being held on the banks of the Jessamine Creek near Wilmore, Kentucky at what is now called Grows Mill Road. There was not enough money to construct a proper building with a roof. The structure consisted of 4 walls and limbs from the cedar trees in the area were used to make a roof. At that time, the church was called “The Community Church.” When the association for the Methodist denomination came in, the decision was made to split the church. The Baptist portion of The Community Church then made the decision to purchase land and build, thus the beginning of Cedar Top Baptist Church.

The church commissioned three members, Brothers Horace Rodgers, Price McAfee and Deacon Anderson Lewis to purchase the present property on Scott Street for the sum of $55 cash in hand from Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Wood. The deed was dated the 6th day of September, 1894. Construction of the current structure began shortly thereafter. However, this was not an easy task to undertake. Big stones were 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!

Baptisms were held in Jessamine Creek. The congregation would travel approximately 2-3 miles by foot, wagon, or horseback, singing all the way, to watch a candidate for baptism be taken in the water. People would line up on the bridge and watch from the road. We are sure the pastors who served here prior to the installation of the baptismal pool baptized in the creek and assisting several of them was Deacon Noah Weaver. Deacon Weaver would walk into the water carrying a long stick or staff looking for the best place for baptism.

Serving as first pastor of Cedar Top was Rev. Jesse Tull, Sr., born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1848. Rev. Tull passed on March 30, 1911

Some of the founders and original trustees and deacons are: Deacon Samuel Yates of Glass Mill Road, who transacted as treasurer. Deacon Yates also secured the lumber for the building of the new church. His son, Sylvester Yates, served as deacon of the church for over 40 years. George William Prentice, who also lived outside the city limits of Wilmore, was an original founder. Anderson Lewis was founder and deacon and owned a large farm at Glass Mill on Frankfort Ford. Price McAfee, a farmer living on Glass Mill Road, was a founder and trustee. John B. King, lived on Jessamine Station and was a founder and deacon. George Yates lived on a farm on Grows Mill Road and was a deacon at the time of the founding of the church. Deacon George Yates also served as superintendent of the Sunday School for many years. His grand-daughter, Sayde Gray (deceased), served as president of the Progressive Club.



It was not until May 5, 1947 that a plot of land was secured from Clarence Harper by the trustees of Cedar Top Baptist Church for the purpose of building a parsonage. This land was composed of two lots fronting one hundred four feet on Scott Street and bounded on the north by a lot belonging to Ben Thompson, on the south a lot owned by Horace Turpin and running on the west to the Cincinnati Southern Railway company. Another tract was secured from the same man fronting the western side of Scott Street ninety-six feet. This also ran back to the Cincinnati Southern Railway lines and lay between the other plot and the plot owned by Perkins Chapel Methodist Church. In 1960 the parsonage was built on the lot. Since then, the parsonage has been destroyed by fire.



The trustees 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 the church. The cost would be about $3000.00. The project had been underway for forty years and the goal for completion was in time for the first Sunday in August 1966, which is the annual, Homecoming and Basket Meeting.

Under the pastorate of Rev. W.D. Crutcher, construction began to add a basement to the church. It took lots of time and hard work from all the men (deacons and trustees), as well as the members, family and friends to get this project completed. This serves today as our dining room. Cabinets were installed, tile put down, refrigerator, stove, dining tables and chairs were added.



The Progressive Club has been very instrumental in assisting throughout the years with recurring expenses, building and remodeling. The Progressive Club has raised a lot of money and worked hard to help the church in any way it could and continues to carry on as in years past.

Despite her longevity, Cedar Top has only had 20 pastors, some of who served two terms as pastor. They are: Reverends J.C. Tull, Harvey Miller, John Wheeler, 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, Walter W. Ballinger and Anthony G. Givens, current pastor. Cedar Top has also had eight brothers to either be licensed or ordained as ministers. They are: J.C. Tull, Jessie Tull, H.E. Baker, G.L. Baker, James M. Baker, Harold Bulter, Lawrence D. Gassett, and Lic. Craig Smith. There have been 29 deacons, all are deceased except nine. We have 50 families, 100 members, four singing groups, Women's Auxiliary (Missionary Society), Puppet Ministry, children's church, Progressive Club, and Building Fund.

There have been many improvement projects throughout the history of the church. Some of these include: adding brick exterior, construction of the annex, hardwood floors in the sanctuary, new pews, piano, pulpit furniture, Lord Supper table and chairs, new windows, added Pastor's study, restrooms and baptismal pool. The church has also added a sound system, computers, upgraded phone system, light fixtures, handicap ramp, microwave, added new heat/air units, church van as well as 5 properties on Scott Street and 2 on Locust Street.

We are truly proud of the rich history of Cedar Top Baptist Church. We know that it was through faith and by the grace of God that brought us thus far. And we will continue to trust in His word. We give Him all the glory, honor and praise! When praises go up, blessings come down!