Ivory Hill Baptist Church is located at 8315 Winchester Road, Irvine Kentucky in Estill County.
A more descriptive location is that it is located on Highway 89 at the comer of Cressy Road,
about eight miles from Irvine.
Ivory Hill started as a mission of First Baptist Church of Irvine. On August 18th, 1947, Reverend Carl
Standifer, evangelist, and others met in the Old Ivory Hill School House on Hargett-Parvin Road for
a revival. During this week-long revival there were two professions of faith. Sunday School and
Worship Service were held on the following Sunday and continued each Sunday afternoon with
Rev. Jesse C. Stephens and teachers from First Baptist Church. The Brotherhood from First Baptist
also started a prayer service on Tuesday nights. The men who came from First Baptist were
P. A. Wolfmbarger, Morton Herald, Cornelious N. Harris, Bryon Arnold, E. 1. Blakemore, and
Harold Calmes. Harold Calmes is the only one still living.
When spring arrived in 1948, Ivory Hill Mission was helping to support two other missions of
First Baptist. The success achieved at Ivory Hill was never found in the other two missions and they
eventually closed their doors.
Willie and Lena Allen donated land for a permanent structure in 1948. A new building consisting of
one large room, with two coal stoves for heat was built. This new building built by Neal
Wolfinbarger cost a sum of $1500. Fifteen men donated $100.00 each to pay the cost. The building
was dedicated, with all day service October 31, 1948. Rev.L. O. Griffith was the dedication
speaker and Rev. Jesse Stephen led in a prayer of dedication.
In 1949 Ivory Hill was able to purchase a piano. The church was still a mission.
On May 4th, 1952 a motion was made by Oliver Lowery and seconded by Owen Witt for Ivory Hill
to become a self-supporting church. The motion passed.
On May 20th, Willis Woods made a motion to accept the proposed church covenant, seconded by
Shelby Jordan. The articles of faith were read as written and approved by Boone's Creek
Association. The name Ivory Hill was agreed upon for the church.
On May 25, 1952, representatives from twelve Baptist Churches in the Boone's Creek Association
met at Ivory Hill to help organize the church. These churches were: Allansville, Beach Grove,
Boone's Creek, Calvary, Central, Corinth, Irvine First, Kiddville, Macedonia, Providence,
(Estill Co.) South Irvine and Williams Memorial.
Paul Fox, from Central Baptist Church read the Church Covenant and the Articles of Faith which
were adopted. He then made the motion to establish Ivory Hill Baptist Church with 29 members.
Lloyd Mahanes, pastor of the Boone's Creek Baptist seconded the motion.
The members of the newly formed Ivory Hill Baptist Church voted to adopt Kerfoot's Parliamentary
Law as a guide in business meetings. They also voted to seek union with the Boone's Creek Baptist
Association, the General Association of Kentucky and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Rev. Lloyd Mahanes preached a sermon from Ephesians 5. Following the sermon, Otto Pierson was
chosen as moderator of the new church. A hand of fellowship was extended to the following
members: Oliver Lowry, Mrs. Oliver Lowry, Vernon Lowry, Owen Witt, Mrs. Owen Witt, Ella Allen,
Quinten (Tim) Allen, Anna Allen, Lotha Allen, Lewis Allen, Cleta Allen, Shelby Jordon, Lucy Jordon,
Golda Jordon, Virginia Johnson, Willis Woods, Bea Woods, Loretta Woods, Billy Ray Woods,
Dorothy Arnold, Wilbur Arnold, Bobby Arnold, Noomie Stone, Jimmy Stone, Myrtle Crouch,
Kelsie Ross, Stella Jordon, Otto Pierson, Mrs. Otto Pierson.
Willis Woods, Oliver Lowry, Owen Witt, Shelby Jordon and Otto Pierson, messengers from I
vory Hill Baptist Church attended the Boone's Creek Association Annual Meeting to seek admission
into the Boone's Creek Baptist Association. The church was accepted into the Association at the
fall meeting at Cow Creek Baptist Church, August 19th & 20th 1952.
In 1965 Ivory Hill purchased the lot behind the church, which, increased the property about 2 acers.
In 1966 Sunday School class rooms were added.
In 1969 the sanctuary was remodeled and new pews installed.
In 1970 they purchased & installed new carpet. Ivory Hill also published a church history that year.
In 1976 Ivory Hill's membership increased greatly, and an expansive building program began;
construction of a cistern, restrooms, more Sunday School rooms, a recreation room and a kitchen
Were built. Also in 1976, 6% of the church proceeds was committed to the Children’s Homes.
In recent years many improvements have been made to the church building, to name a few;
aptistry installed, vestibule built, steeple built with bell in it, central air and heat installed in
auditorium, storage building for clothing bank purchased, church van purchased, outdoor shelter
With electric.
Kenneth Means and Tracy Randall Patrick, Jr. were elected as deacons. The annual outdoor singing
and pig roast was started during the summer months.
Pastor Marvin Neal baptized 35 people in 2000/01. Ivory Hill received an award from Southern
Baptist Convention for being in the upper 25% of churches in baptisms, The most people baptized
at one time were 15 on July 7, 1976 at a creek on White Oak. Elbert Bailey has the distinction of
being the oldest person baptized at age 86 in 1992. Some men have been baptized after men
carried them down to the creek in a chair because they could not stand.
WMU was started in 1982 by Pastor George Grubbs and Betty Brooks. The WMU gives food boxes to
the needy at Christmas and fruit baskets to widows and widowers in the community. They have
started a food drive and household pantry for needy in church and community.
The WMU has a fund called the "Fairchild Children's Fund", named in memory of Richard Fairchild,
in which money is collected for school supplies and clothing for children with needs in the
community. Ivory Hill also has an ACTEEN Program.
Ivory Hill has Vacation Bible School each year in June. Several years ago, Ivory Hill's VBS teachers
started writing their own literature for VBS. They find this to be a great savings financially.
New members who are baptized are given a new Bible. New members and sometimes new comers
are given scripture readings each week to get them started reading the Bible everyday.
Each Wednesday night, the adults enjoy open bible study while the children in the back for bible
study, crafts and refreshments. The older girls meet upstairs for ACTEENS while the older boys
meet for Youth on Mission.
In the beginning everyone walked to church. Now most of the congregation drive cars.Some have
been known to ride their horses, even today. Ivory Hill also has a van to pick up whoever needs
a ride to church.
Two histories of the church have been published, one in 1970 and the other in the early 80’s.
Pastors:
Nathaniel Mayhall-Mission Pastor Otto Pierson
George Grubbs
Shelby Naylor
Ray Adams
Gilbert Williams
Gary Evans
James Stanfield-Associate Pastor Harold Dunaway
George Grubbs
Gary Conners-Associate Pastor Don Leggett
Marvin Neal-present pastor
2009
Pastor & Wife: Marvin & Elva Neal
Deacons:
Jerry Puckett
Elmer Adams
Lewis Allen
Executive Board Member: Tracy Randall Patrick
Chairman of the Deacons: Lewis.Allen
Secretary: Tish Brinegar
Treasurer: Amanda & John Webb
Clerk: Betty L. Brooks
Average Sunday School Attendance: 59
Average Worship Attendance: 87
VBS Enrollment: 144
A more descriptive location is that it is located on Highway 89 at the comer of Cressy Road,
about eight miles from Irvine.
Ivory Hill started as a mission of First Baptist Church of Irvine. On August 18th, 1947, Reverend Carl
Standifer, evangelist, and others met in the Old Ivory Hill School House on Hargett-Parvin Road for
a revival. During this week-long revival there were two professions of faith. Sunday School and
Worship Service were held on the following Sunday and continued each Sunday afternoon with
Rev. Jesse C. Stephens and teachers from First Baptist Church. The Brotherhood from First Baptist
also started a prayer service on Tuesday nights. The men who came from First Baptist were
P. A. Wolfmbarger, Morton Herald, Cornelious N. Harris, Bryon Arnold, E. 1. Blakemore, and
Harold Calmes. Harold Calmes is the only one still living.
When spring arrived in 1948, Ivory Hill Mission was helping to support two other missions of
First Baptist. The success achieved at Ivory Hill was never found in the other two missions and they
eventually closed their doors.
Willie and Lena Allen donated land for a permanent structure in 1948. A new building consisting of
one large room, with two coal stoves for heat was built. This new building built by Neal
Wolfinbarger cost a sum of $1500. Fifteen men donated $100.00 each to pay the cost. The building
was dedicated, with all day service October 31, 1948. Rev.L. O. Griffith was the dedication
speaker and Rev. Jesse Stephen led in a prayer of dedication.
In 1949 Ivory Hill was able to purchase a piano. The church was still a mission.
On May 4th, 1952 a motion was made by Oliver Lowery and seconded by Owen Witt for Ivory Hill
to become a self-supporting church. The motion passed.
On May 20th, Willis Woods made a motion to accept the proposed church covenant, seconded by
Shelby Jordan. The articles of faith were read as written and approved by Boone's Creek
Association. The name Ivory Hill was agreed upon for the church.
On May 25, 1952, representatives from twelve Baptist Churches in the Boone's Creek Association
met at Ivory Hill to help organize the church. These churches were: Allansville, Beach Grove,
Boone's Creek, Calvary, Central, Corinth, Irvine First, Kiddville, Macedonia, Providence,
(Estill Co.) South Irvine and Williams Memorial.
Paul Fox, from Central Baptist Church read the Church Covenant and the Articles of Faith which
were adopted. He then made the motion to establish Ivory Hill Baptist Church with 29 members.
Lloyd Mahanes, pastor of the Boone's Creek Baptist seconded the motion.
The members of the newly formed Ivory Hill Baptist Church voted to adopt Kerfoot's Parliamentary
Law as a guide in business meetings. They also voted to seek union with the Boone's Creek Baptist
Association, the General Association of Kentucky and the Southern Baptist Convention.
Rev. Lloyd Mahanes preached a sermon from Ephesians 5. Following the sermon, Otto Pierson was
chosen as moderator of the new church. A hand of fellowship was extended to the following
members: Oliver Lowry, Mrs. Oliver Lowry, Vernon Lowry, Owen Witt, Mrs. Owen Witt, Ella Allen,
Quinten (Tim) Allen, Anna Allen, Lotha Allen, Lewis Allen, Cleta Allen, Shelby Jordon, Lucy Jordon,
Golda Jordon, Virginia Johnson, Willis Woods, Bea Woods, Loretta Woods, Billy Ray Woods,
Dorothy Arnold, Wilbur Arnold, Bobby Arnold, Noomie Stone, Jimmy Stone, Myrtle Crouch,
Kelsie Ross, Stella Jordon, Otto Pierson, Mrs. Otto Pierson.
Willis Woods, Oliver Lowry, Owen Witt, Shelby Jordon and Otto Pierson, messengers from I
vory Hill Baptist Church attended the Boone's Creek Association Annual Meeting to seek admission
into the Boone's Creek Baptist Association. The church was accepted into the Association at the
fall meeting at Cow Creek Baptist Church, August 19th & 20th 1952.
In 1965 Ivory Hill purchased the lot behind the church, which, increased the property about 2 acers.
In 1966 Sunday School class rooms were added.
In 1969 the sanctuary was remodeled and new pews installed.
In 1970 they purchased & installed new carpet. Ivory Hill also published a church history that year.
In 1976 Ivory Hill's membership increased greatly, and an expansive building program began;
construction of a cistern, restrooms, more Sunday School rooms, a recreation room and a kitchen
Were built. Also in 1976, 6% of the church proceeds was committed to the Children’s Homes.
In recent years many improvements have been made to the church building, to name a few;
aptistry installed, vestibule built, steeple built with bell in it, central air and heat installed in
auditorium, storage building for clothing bank purchased, church van purchased, outdoor shelter
With electric.
Kenneth Means and Tracy Randall Patrick, Jr. were elected as deacons. The annual outdoor singing
and pig roast was started during the summer months.
Pastor Marvin Neal baptized 35 people in 2000/01. Ivory Hill received an award from Southern
Baptist Convention for being in the upper 25% of churches in baptisms, The most people baptized
at one time were 15 on July 7, 1976 at a creek on White Oak. Elbert Bailey has the distinction of
being the oldest person baptized at age 86 in 1992. Some men have been baptized after men
carried them down to the creek in a chair because they could not stand.
WMU was started in 1982 by Pastor George Grubbs and Betty Brooks. The WMU gives food boxes to
the needy at Christmas and fruit baskets to widows and widowers in the community. They have
started a food drive and household pantry for needy in church and community.
The WMU has a fund called the "Fairchild Children's Fund", named in memory of Richard Fairchild,
in which money is collected for school supplies and clothing for children with needs in the
community. Ivory Hill also has an ACTEEN Program.
Ivory Hill has Vacation Bible School each year in June. Several years ago, Ivory Hill's VBS teachers
started writing their own literature for VBS. They find this to be a great savings financially.
New members who are baptized are given a new Bible. New members and sometimes new comers
are given scripture readings each week to get them started reading the Bible everyday.
Each Wednesday night, the adults enjoy open bible study while the children in the back for bible
study, crafts and refreshments. The older girls meet upstairs for ACTEENS while the older boys
meet for Youth on Mission.
In the beginning everyone walked to church. Now most of the congregation drive cars.Some have
been known to ride their horses, even today. Ivory Hill also has a van to pick up whoever needs
a ride to church.
Two histories of the church have been published, one in 1970 and the other in the early 80’s.
Pastors:
Nathaniel Mayhall-Mission Pastor Otto Pierson
George Grubbs
Shelby Naylor
Ray Adams
Gilbert Williams
Gary Evans
James Stanfield-Associate Pastor Harold Dunaway
George Grubbs
Gary Conners-Associate Pastor Don Leggett
Marvin Neal-present pastor
2009
Pastor & Wife: Marvin & Elva Neal
Deacons:
Jerry Puckett
Elmer Adams
Lewis Allen
Executive Board Member: Tracy Randall Patrick
Chairman of the Deacons: Lewis.Allen
Secretary: Tish Brinegar
Treasurer: Amanda & John Webb
Clerk: Betty L. Brooks
Average Sunday School Attendance: 59
Average Worship Attendance: 87
VBS Enrollment: 144
History of Ivory Hill Baptist Church
| Sermons 2012 |
| Sermons 2011 |
| Sermons 2010 |
| Old Times Day 1 |
| Old Times Day 2 |
| Easter 2011 |
| Bible School |
| Easter |