Central Kentucky Church Celebrates 150th Anniversary

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – The word “Historic” can be used to describe New Vine Baptist Church located in Fort Springs, a black hamlet in Lexington’s 12th Ward.

“These are sacred places. We even have our own cemetery here, so we can get married and have burials, we can do it all here, and we covet this place,” said church pastor Stuart Peoples.

Sunday marked an important anniversary for the community, but they weren’t just celebrating their 20th, 50th or even 100th anniversary.

“Well, we’re celebrating the 150th anniversary,” Peoples said.

The church was founded by former slaves in 1874.

The Fort Springs-Rosenwald School was also later built on what is now an annex to the church.

To pay tribute to this history, historical markers have been erected on the hill to a church, a former school building, and even a church cemetery.

“We have people coming from as far away as California, Virginia and other places, Georgia, several places, who are returning home to their home church today. It’s very important, and our roots run very, very deep here,” said Jennifer Jones, co-chair of the church’s Historic Sites and Memory Makers Committee.

As some historically black villages in Fayette County no longer exist or are facing gentrification, preserving that history means everything to church members.

“Like us, we carry on the traditions of our ancestors, so we look forward to the next generation of young members of New Vine Baptist Church to carry on, carry the torch and build on what was laid here for them,” said Anthani Beatty Sr. , chairman of the board of deacons and treasurer of the church.

Pastor Peoples offers advice to other congregations looking to reach this milestone:

“Just stay close to God and stay close to each other,” Peoples said.

During the celebration, church members also buried a time capsule on the property to further commemorate the milestone.