Church History 1951 - 2006
"Celebrating Over 50 Years of Ministry Together"

In the late spring of 1951, about 36 people gathered for prayer services on Wednesday evening in the yard of Mrs. J.C. Sightler. Mr. Jack Douglas, then a non-Christian, offered a store building rent free for a meeting place. This building was located on Charleston Highway just east of the railroad. Full-time services with Sunday School and Wednesday evening prayer services were begun.

This group became known as Emmanuel Baptist Mission and on October 2, 1951, became known as Emmanuel Baptist Church. That same day, the church voted to change the name to Green Hill Baptist Church. On November 5, 1951, at the annual meeting the church was admitted into full fellowship with the Lexington Baptist Association and becoming a member of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Under the leadership of the first pastor, Rev. C. C. Duncan, two lots were purchased on Green Hill with option to buy three more. Plans were drawn and money borrowed to construct the first church building. The building had a large assembly room with five smaller rooms. Construction was begun early in 1952 and the first service was held in the new auditorium (now known as the Harter Building) on the third Sunday in May, 1952. The first deacons to be elected by the church were J. D. Day, B. C. Harter and H. S. Ray.

During 1952, the church organized the WMU, Brotherhood and Baptist Training Union. Also, a benevolent flower committee was formed to send flowers to members in the hospital and death in the family. The first committee was Mrs. Ruby Lorick and Mrs. C. W. Gordon.

Controversy caused a division in the church and the pastor resigned during January, 1953. Rev. Duncan and several members left and organized another church. Seventy-eight members remained at Green Hill to carry on the work the church had begun.

Dr. D. D. Lewis, an associate in the state Sunday School Department, was called to serve as interim pastor. On June 7, 1953, Rev. B. I. Epting, who was still in Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky was called as pastor. Under Rev. Epting's leadership, the church began to grow and two more lots were purchased, a Sunday School annex was built. (This was later known as the Coke House). Old bus bodies were borrowed and heaters installed to accommodate the growing Sunday School. The house at 1810 Augusta Road was rented as a pastorium and the living room and garage used as classrooms. By May of 1955, the church membership had grown to 350 and Sunday School enrollment to 415.

During 1955, work began on the foundation and basement for the auditorium and when completed was used as Sunday School rooms. The first services were held in the new auditorium on November 26, 1956. On Sunday, December 9, 1956, the building was dedicated with services conducted by Dr. Charles Sims. The building contractor was Mr. A. M. Hall and the cost of completion was $70,000.00. The Harter Building was used as the Junior Department and partitioned into several rooms and assembly rooms.

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