First Baptist Church on the corner of Clinton and High Streets was established in 1833. In 1973, the church received “Historical Site” designation by the Kentucky Heritage Commission. The congregation is active in the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky.

A succession of pastors, each with their own God-given vision has led First Baptist Church in good and bad times: Rev. Henderson Williams (1838-1843); Rev. James Monroe (1845-1864); Rev. Robert Martin (1864-1884); Rev. George Patterson (1884-1887); Rev. Eugene Evans (1887-1894); Rev. J.W. Hawkins (1894-1898) Rev. Robert Mitchell (1894-1903); Rev. C.C. Wakefield (1903-1904); Rev. W.R. Payne (1904-1905); Rev. W.T. Silvey (1905-1919); Dr. W.H. Ballew (1919-1932); Rev. R.E.S. Utterback (1938-1945); Dr. Reggie H. Johnson (1948-1949); Rev. W.R. Hutchinson, JR. (1949-1960); Rev. K. L. Moore, Jr. (1960-2006); Rev. Robert E. Houston (2009-2017); Rev. Rosby L. Glover (2021-2023); and Bishop Tiangello Hill (2024-).