North of Pike and Madison

First Christian Church, On 5th, just west of Madison A Gothic Revival style from the architectural firm of Dittoe and Wisenall

 

First Christian Church of Covington

History of Covington Christian Church (pdf).
by Marilyn Digweed, 1958

Old stereoview of 4th Street Churches, circa 1880	First Presbyterian & First Baptist, 4th Street Covington, c. 1909  First Baptist (nearest the photographer) was dedicated in 1873.  Both of these  churches had the same architects: Walter & Stewart

“The First Presbyterian Church of Covington has abolished the rented pew system, and will depend hereafter solely upon voluntary contributions for means to defray the entire expenses of the church.” Courier-Journal, March 14, 1870

First Presbyterian was designed by Cincinnati's J. W. McLaughlin, and built by Covington's J. A. Walthall.

History of Covington's First Presbyterian Church is here.

1842	1859	1871
These are all Trinity Church buildings.  The  frame building from 1842 was replaced by the brick structure of 1859.  Additions and extensive remodeling to the 1859 building bring us to it's present look, which dates back to 1888.

 

Trinity Church, c. 1900	Trinity Episcopal  Church, 1922	unknown year	Trinity Episcopal,  1965	Trinity Episcopal Church, 1937 Flood
Mrs. Stephens L. Blakely wrote the Chronicles of Trinity for the Gist Society.  Her essay is here. (pdf) Frances Keller Barr wrote a short history of Trinity, here (pdf). The  Trinity Rector, Rev. C. G. Currie, on Easter, April 16th, 1865, spoke on Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated on the day before.  It can be read at this site.

First Presbyterian, Covington  This church building was built in 1871-1873  and was torn down in 1963 to make way for the IRS Center two images on the right are from 1892 The History of its first 100 years (1841 to 1941) is here.  (pdf) The History was updated in 1891 to reflect the next 50 years, here.  (pdf)

 “Fourth Street Baptist,” Covington, 1909
 It's really the First Baptist Church on Fourth Street
Designed by Walter and Stewart

 

Scott Street Methodist

Main Street M. E. Church (Methodist Episcopal), Main & 8th		Parsonage, Main Street Methodist  832 Willard, Covington

Covington Methodist Episcopal legally established in 1842.

The history of Main Street Methodist, a 200 page pdf.

 

M. E. Church on Scott	Union M.E. Church, 5th & Greenup Established in 1866; erected in 1867; burned and rebuilt, 1947

First Church, 1863-1896			German Reformed Church, Covington
German Protestant Church Lockwood and Willard, c. 1900	Parsonage

from the historical marker: “Grace United Church of Christ. Organized as a Reformed Church and German
language day school. Cornerstone laid July 13, 1862. Victorian Gothic church second oldest in
Covington still used by the founding congregation. Dedicated Palm Sunday, 1863. Construction
interrupted when this area was threatened by Morgan's Raiders. Name of Grace Reformed Church
adopted during war in 1918. Abandoned in 1995.”

They converted from German to English services on April 28, 1918.
They changed their name to Grace reformed on December 1, 1918.
They re-wrote their constitution in 1919 “to meet the changing conditions.”

What changing conditions? Read Lisa Gillham's excellent article on anti-German hysteria in Covington during WWI, here. (pdf)

The very first Christmas tree in Covington was said to been erected at the Immanuel Methodist
Episcopal Church, a frame building, in the 700 block of Craig Street, in 1855.

We have brief history's of Covington's First and Fourth Churches of Christ

In 1926, the US Census Bureau counted church denominations
and their members.  The Covington results are here.