First Baptist Church Knoxville, Knoxville

Located in Knoxville, the First Baptist Church is a historic church that is registered in the National Register of Historic Places. The church was organized in 1843 by James and John Moses, with 46 members, including 20 African-Americans, after their first baptismal service at nearby First Creek. The church established its first Sunday School in 1845 and constructed its first building on Gay Street in 1844. The second building was constructed at the same location in 1887, while the third and current building was finished in 1923 at the Main Street location, three years after Dr. Frederick Fernando Brown became the pastor.

This church building is architecturally significant, known for its Neoclassical style and octagonal sanctuary. It was designed by Nashville architects Dougherty and Gardner and modeled after Saint Martin-in-the-Fields Church in England. The church's sanctuary exterior is covered in marble, while the adjoining education space is made of brick. The congregation is moderate and affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a mainline denomination in the South.