First Baptist Church (Knoxville, Tennessee)

First Baptist Church is a historic church located at 510 Main Street in Knoxville, Tennessee. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.

First Baptist Church
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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Location	510 Main Ave., Knoxville, Tennessee
Coordinates	35°57′37″N 83°55′7″W
Area	3 acres (1.2 ha)
Built	1923
Built by	Worsham Bros.
Architect	Dougherty & Gardner
Architectural style	Classical Revival, Octagon, Other
MPS	Knoxville and Knox County MPS
NRHP reference No.	97000223[1]
Added to NRHP	March 8, 1997

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The congregation was organized in 1843 by James and John Moses. After its first baptismal service in nearby First Creek, the church had 46 members, including 20 African-Americans. The church organized its first Sunday School in 1845. The first building was constructed on Gay Street in 1844. The second building was built at the same location in 1887.[2] The third (and present) building was completed in 1923 at the Main Street location, three years after Dr. Frederick Fernando Brown became pastor. This architecturally-significant structure, noteworthy for its Neoclassical design and octagonal sanctuary, was designed by Dougherty & Gardner of Nashville, Tennessee, and is modeled on St Martin-in-the-Fields of London. The exterior of the church sanctuary is sheathed in marble, although the adjoining education space is brick.[2] The congregation is moderate,[3] and is member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, [4] a mainline denomination in the South.