The United States was at a fascinating point in history in 1854 with its own dramatic advancements...

Streets in major cities were beginning to be lit by coal gas lamps while communications reached beyond borders with Texas being linked via telegraph.

Nebraska and Kansas joined the fold as territories. The U.S. Naval Academy graduated its first class. Why, 1854 even marked the invention of the accordian.

The year also bore witness to an important advancement for the Christian faith in rural Kentucky with the official formation of a tiny church by way of a deed transfer to the Baptist Trustees on Dec. 30, 1854 – known today as Franklin Crossroads Baptist Church.

Beyond court records not much is known of Crossroads’ early days except that the
Baptists shared the one-room building with the Cumberland Presbyterians. Heating was supplied by a coal-burning, pot-belly stove and all five Sunday School classes met in the one room.

In 1949, the Baptists purchased the Presbyterians’ share of the property and by 1956 the church was ready for its first expansion even though services would remain bi-monthly until 1965.

In 1956, new facilities were built directly east of the original building. Phase 1 of the plan consisted of a covered basement with five enclosed classrooms, a furnace room, and an area used as a sanctuary. Phase 2 was completed in 1959, including eight classrooms and a sanctuary to seat 140.

In 1972, the sanctuary was enlarged to seat 250 and included a baptistery. Also, a two-story, 28X40 educational wing was added to the west of the sanctuary.

In October of 1972, the church voted to go full time and began the search for its first full-time pastor. The search concluded with Charles Steve Harden being
called in March 1973. The church’s first minister of music was Tommy Edmonds in 1976.

That fateful, prayerful decision in 1972 set the stage for dramatic growth for Franklin- Crossroads in all the years since.

In 1988, Joel Worley was hired as the first full-time minister of youth/music. Other
youth ministers have included Eddie McDonald, Dale Crowder, Kevin White and Aaron Shipp who currently serves as our interim youth minister.

In 1989, the church became mother church to Harvest Baptist in Custer and assisted the mission church until it became constituted in 1999.

In 1990, Franklin Crossroads instituted two Sunday morning services, and from 1988-1998 was listed among the top 100 churches in Kentucky for baptisms.

In 1997, the church purchased 18 acres on which to build its current-day worship center at 4695 Hardinsburg Road. Groundbreaking for the 33,000 square foot facility was held on June 29, 1998, and the first service in the 650-seat sanctuary was conducted April 2, 2000.

The official dedication was held May 21, 2000.

FULL-TIME PASTORS