Appalachian Churches
“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” – Luke 1:37 KJV
Constructed in the late eighteenth century, the Old Stone Church, formally known as Old Providence Church, stands as one of the state’s oldest surviving church buildings. Nestled away on Boonesboro Road in Clark County, Kentucky, the limestone walls have witnessed the growth of frontier faith and community division and reunion.
In the Beginning
A group of Baptists from Abingdon, Virginia, migrating westward, became the first congregation of Howard’s Creek Church in 1784. They soon took on the name “Providence” around 1790, reflecting the settlers’ deep sense of divine purpose in their new home.
The church building currently standing, often called the Old Stone Meeting House, was constructed about 1793 using locally quarried limestone, sometimes referred to as “Kentucky marble.” The structure was designed both for worship, but also for the protection during frontier times. There are historical accounts that describe “loopholes” that were built into the walls which allowed guards to watch for Native Americans who may attack during early services.
Making History
The Old Providence Church played an influential role in the development of the Baptist denomination in Kentucky. In 1801, a meeting was hosted bringing together the “Regular” and “Separate” Baptists into the United Baptists, marking a significant milestone in the history of religion in the frontier days.
Amongst early worshippers was Daniel Boone, a historical frontiersman. There are records that note two members of the Boone family, Samuel and Mary Boone, were baptized at Providence, highlighting the church’s prominence among early Kentucky settlers.
A New Chapter
The community surrounding the church has changed significantly by the mid-nineteenth century. Around 1869-1870, the white congregation relocated and sold the old stone building to the local African American community. From then on, the structure became known as the Providence Missionary Baptist Church. This church is known to have served as one of the earliest Black congregations in Clark County.
The transition marked a new chapter in the building’s long history. For formerly enslaved and free Black residents, the church beam a place of autonomy, worship, and education. It remained a focal point for African American life in the region for generations continued.
Fire, Restoration, and Recognition
A devastating fire may have gutted much of the church’s interior in 1949, but the stone walls surviving was a true blessing. The congregation restored the structure quickly. Some original features were lost, but the essential form and historic character of the building were preserved.
Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Old Stone Church is recognized for its architectural significance and deep cultural heritage. In 2023, a new Kentucky Historical Marker was dedicated to better tell the full story of the site, both its early frontier and the Black Baptist community in Clark County.
A Legacy
The Old Stone Church continues to symbolize endurance and faith across generations for more than two centuries.From its frontier beginnings to its role in African American history, it stands as a physical and spiritual link to the people who shaped Kentucky’s earliest communities, reminding us that with God, nothing is impossible.
Sources and Further Reading
National Park Service. National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form: Providence Baptist Church (Old Stone Meeting House). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, 1975. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/024a22c4-d4c6-4133-bc00-615d263c618b.
The Historical Marker Database. “Old Providence Church.” Entry #30831. Last modified 2010. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=30831.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. “Old Providence Church (Kentucky).” Last modified October 2025. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Providence_Church.
WinCity Voices. “Old Stone Church: Kentucky Historical Marker Dedication.” December 2024. https://www.wincityvoices.org/old-stone-church-kentucky-historical-marker-dedication.
The Winchester Sun. “On the Trail of Winchester’s Black History.” February 21, 2020. https://winchestersun.com/2020/02/21/on-the-trail-of-winchesters-black-history.
Winchester Black History and Heritage Committee. Early Black Churches in Clark County, Kentucky. Winchester, KY: Winchester Black History and Heritage Committee, n.d. https://winchesterblackhistoryandheritagecommittee.org/Early-Black-Churches-in-Clark-County.pdf.