Among the structures damaged by the New Year’s Day EF-2 tornado that struck downtown Hopkinsville was the Mt. Olive Baptist Church on Fourth Street.
The church itself dates back to 1885 when a group of parishioners left the Virginia Street Baptist Church to form a new church. A fire destroyed a former church sanctuary and worship was held in the courthouse for another period of time.
The current church was built in 1968 and last month, the congregation celebrated its 136th anniversary. However, the structure was damaged by last week’s tornado. Marcia Johnson, who serves several roles with the church in its everyday operations, said most of the damage was to the roof.
click to download audioJohnson said the church was having its annual watch night service just hours before the tornado, resulting in a blessing that no one was injured had the twister dropped hours earlier.
click to download audioJohnson said one area of the church that did suffer significant damage was the mission house, a historic home that dates back to 1875 and was located next to the sanctuary.
click to download audioJohnson said the mission house recently helped serve people affected by the tornado that struck Pembroke and Bowling Green last month.
click to download audioJohnson went on to praise the outpouring of support the church has received, especially from a group that came from Pennsylvania in the hours after the tornado struck.
click to download audioWhile the roof and inside of the church are being repaired, the congregation will have services at the Hopkinsville College of the Bible chapel seven blocks away on North Vine Street. But given the history of a church that has met in homes, the courthouse, a storefront, and a crude building with a tin top, holding services at the chapel will be a minor speed bump until the sanctuary on East Fourth Street is repaired and worship resumes.
