1816 – The Christian Church in Lexington
Kentucky's first three Christian Churches were formed near Lexington: The Mount Tabor Church, The Republican, and The Bethel.
Following a brief time in Tennessee, Barton Stone was called to Lexington and helped form The first Christian church in Lexington, in 1816, with 24 members. The Lexington congregation purchased a lot on Hill Street, in 1828, for $400 and built a church. After an addition was built, in 1832, it was large enough for the united Christian Church and Church of Christ in Lexington to join the Disciples of Christ in that facility. By 1841, a much larger church was built on Main Street and growth continued. The congregation took the name of Central Christian Church and moved to Short Street. Broadway Christian Church formed in 1870. Part of the congregation continued on Main Street for a time. Congregations also formed at Chestnut Street, Maxwell Street, Maryland Avenue, Southside, and West End.
Others, like Providence Church, would form in Lexington as well. Some separated from the Baptist Church to join Stone's "reformers." Two of these congregations the South Elkhorn Church (part of the Travelling Church) and the Mill Street Church broke from the Baptists. These former Baptist congregations would, by and large, follow in the Disciples of Christ tradition of Alexander Campbell.
The population of the city had grown to 7,000 by 1840, tripled to 21,000 by 1890, and was the largest and wealthiest town in Kentucky. Known for Transylvania University and the Kentucky’s first library Lexington came to be known as the Athens of the West.
But Lexington will ever be,
The Loveliest and the best;
A paradise thou’rt still to me,
Sweet Athens of the west.
Among the city's residents was Kentucky statesman Henry Clay (attorney, Representative, Senator, presidential candidate) who owned 6,500 acres of east Lexington including Ashland Park and the area that would become Woodland Park.
In 1907, barely a hundred years since the birth of the Christian Church, the seven Lexington congregations recognized the need for a new church in the east end of Lexington. The churches met to consider how a new congregation might be formed on the fastest-growing edge of town. This was the genesis of Woodland Christian Church.
Following a brief time in Tennessee, Barton Stone was called to Lexington and helped form The first Christian church in Lexington, in 1816, with 24 members. The Lexington congregation purchased a lot on Hill Street, in 1828, for $400 and built a church. After an addition was built, in 1832, it was large enough for the united Christian Church and Church of Christ in Lexington to join the Disciples of Christ in that facility. By 1841, a much larger church was built on Main Street and growth continued. The congregation took the name of Central Christian Church and moved to Short Street. Broadway Christian Church formed in 1870. Part of the congregation continued on Main Street for a time. Congregations also formed at Chestnut Street, Maxwell Street, Maryland Avenue, Southside, and West End.
Others, like Providence Church, would form in Lexington as well. Some separated from the Baptist Church to join Stone's "reformers." Two of these congregations the South Elkhorn Church (part of the Travelling Church) and the Mill Street Church broke from the Baptists. These former Baptist congregations would, by and large, follow in the Disciples of Christ tradition of Alexander Campbell.
The population of the city had grown to 7,000 by 1840, tripled to 21,000 by 1890, and was the largest and wealthiest town in Kentucky. Known for Transylvania University and the Kentucky’s first library Lexington came to be known as the Athens of the West.
But Lexington will ever be,
The Loveliest and the best;
A paradise thou’rt still to me,
Sweet Athens of the west.
Among the city's residents was Kentucky statesman Henry Clay (attorney, Representative, Senator, presidential candidate) who owned 6,500 acres of east Lexington including Ashland Park and the area that would become Woodland Park.
In 1907, barely a hundred years since the birth of the Christian Church, the seven Lexington congregations recognized the need for a new church in the east end of Lexington. The churches met to consider how a new congregation might be formed on the fastest-growing edge of town. This was the genesis of Woodland Christian Church.
- https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/lexington/athens.htm