Walnut Street Baptist Church

Throughout this blog, I have refrained from featuring Louisville churches because there are just too many that deserve mention - it could be a blog of its own. However, I am violating my policy this once because of the grandeur and beauty of the church in question and the facts that I visited it today and am biased - it's probably the flagship of my particular Christian denomination in the state of Kentucky :) Walnut Street Baptist Church formed in 1849 when Louisville's First Baptist (founded 1815) and Second Baptist (1838) united. Their first house of worship opened in 1854 on the NW corner of 4th and well, Walnut St. (now Muhammad Ali Blvd.). It was a wonderful Gothic structure (see first picture below), but by the end of the 19th century, the congregation had outgrown it. So, the church bought a piece of land at 3rd and St. Catherine and built what we currently know as Walnut Street. That was 1902, and the facility has been serving Christ, its members, and the Louisville community ever since. Over the years, additions for offices, the children's ministry, education, recreation, a welcome center, etc. have been constructed and when parking's thrown into the equation, the complex now takes up pretty much an entire city block. Lovely place. Friendly people. Pay it a visit sometime.

http://www.walnutstreet.org/

The first Walnut Street Baptist Church, 4th and Walnut

This photo is from the balcony, pastor's right, looking across the sanctuary. It's hard to get a straight on shot due to the building's design. And no photo really does it justice anyway. The stained glass, organ, light fixtures, and abundance of wood are really something to see.