1781 – 1801
1781 – Rev. Lewis Craig left Virginia in September, with most of the congregation of the Upper Spotsylvania Baptist Church where he had pastored since 1770. The group left in search of religious liberty and became known as “The Traveling Church” – from which South Elkhorn Baptist Church had its beginning.
1783 – Rev. Lewis Craig organized the first Baptist church north of the Kentucky River, the South Elkhorn Baptist Church of Christ on Harrodsburg Road.
1785 – The Elkhorn Baptist Association began in 1785 and met with South Elkhorn Baptist Church in 1786.
1801 – The Association met again in 1801 at South Elkhorn Baptist Church, during the great Revival that swept Kentucky and nearly 10,000 people attended this session. South Elkhorn reported 309 baptisms that year.
1802 – 1900
1831 – There followed a period when division and dissention grew over doctrine and the Baptists left or were forced out between 1831-1835. Those left behind became known as South Elkhorn Christian Church on Harrodsburg Road.
1859 – It is believed that the Baptists continued to meet in homes and eventually reorganized at Fort Springs or Slickaway, as it was known then. There were 37 charter members and they met in the Spencer’s Millhouse on Elkhorn Creek.
1860 – The church occupied the brick building in 1860; it had a value to $3,000 and seating capacity of 300.
1892 – Records show South Elkhorn was a cooperating Southern Baptist Church, duly electing Messengers to the Elkhorn Association, attending and contributing to the State and the Southern Baptist Convention.
1901 – 2000
1943 – The church was destroyed by fire in December 1943. Worship was held in the Wolf Run School on Versailles Road until a new building could be built.
1948 – The church and pastor’s home was completed in 1948 and the educational annex was built in the early 1960’s.
1968 – The present sanctuary was dedicated in June 1968.
1973 – The church purchased additional land at various times, 2.571 acres on Rosalie Road for $19,282.50, where the shelter house now stands.
1980 – Mr. John H. Clark donated the corner 1.223 acres of Versailles Road and Rosalie Road.
1992 – The church purchased the farm east of the church for future expansion.
1998 – The church sold the farm east of the church.
2001 –Present
2001 – The church that was built in 1860 was demolished.
2006 – Approximately 45 pastors have served since 1859.
The present pastor is Dr. Damon Jones
October, 2006
Compiled by Helen G. Searcy
From various historical documents