The Williamstown Particular Baptist Church

The Williamstown Particular Baptist Church was organized on October 28th, 1826 by the members of the Old Baptist Church on the Dry Ridge. Likely desiring to be in a more populous location, the church relocated to the newly formed County Seat, Williamstown, after suffering several hardships, church divisions, and splits. Because there were few buildings in the new town, and certainly no church buildings in which to move into, the Particular Baptist Church used the Williamstown Seminary, Grant County's first public school, founded in 1821. The Williamstown Particular Baptist Church brought with them 11 members, their well-known Preacher, Elder William Conrad, and Martin Draper, their longtime Clerk and future County Justice of the Peace and Sheriff. Their first meeting minutes are as follows:

“Whereas-- We, the remaining 11 members of the Old Baptist Church of Christ on the Dry Ridge, Predestinarian, do feel the great necessity of a clear continuance as to our Church Record so as to preserve and maintain the peace and prosperity of Zion. Therefore, on this 28th day of October, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty-Six, be it resolved--
-That since the peace and prosperity of Zion demand that we take up our tents and silently steal away, we shall effect the same in full Faith and Fellowship. -That letters be granted to William Conrad, Martin Draper, Elizabeth Conrad, John Lowe, Esau Boyers, Robert Childers (Jr.) and John Lawless Sr. to organize the church anew at Williamstown in Grant County, Ky.
-That the Church henceforth shall be known as the Williamstown Church of Christ, Particular Baptist. -That it be known the Old Baptist Church of Christ on the Dry Ridge, Predestinarian and the Williamstown church of Christ, Particular Baptist is one and the same church. -That the church is most solemnly bound, with All Mighty God as its witness, to pen in the Record Book the doctrines of the Old Faith and Order (Calvinism) and abide with them henceforth and forevermore.
-That letters of Dismissal be granted to Jacob Franks, Elizabeth Franks, his wife--to aid and assist Elder David Lillard in organizing a Baptist Church at the headwaters of Little Ten Mile Creek, henceforward to be known as Mount Zion. May ALL Mighty God add to its peace and prosperity.
-That a letter of dismissal for Bro. Asa Tungate be granted to the Salem church of Adams County, Illinois. May the Grace and Peace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you always--Amen. (Signed) Martin Draper, Clerk."

In August of 1828, with a growing membership of 33, the church voted to buy a half of an acre on the North Side of the Licking Road (Mill Street), for $100. Less than a year later, the first service was held in their meeting house which was located on their lot north of Mill Street, at the entrance of what is today the Williamstown Cemetery.
After operating for many years in the same location, enduring hardships such as the Civil War, many diseases, and updating their church, a call to "build a church house in some convenient place near Dry Ridge" was voted upon in July of 1891.

By June of 1892, their new church building, which still stands today was completed. However, some members of the Williamstown Particular Baptist Church decided to remain in their Williamstown location and the burial place of many of their ancestors and friends who had served the church. Even though they constructed a new church building at the site, the church continued to dwindle for the next few decades.

Finally, in 1918, the minutes of the Williamstown Particular Baptist Church ceased after a 92 year span of existence. By 1947, the Williamstown Cemetery Company had annexed the church lot and its many gravestones. In recent years, the Grant County Historical Society placed a monument at the site of the former church in honor of its members and in honor of the history that the Church gave to Grant County.

from a Facebook post by the Grant County KY Historical Society