Our Church History
In 1941 there was a tent revival on the outskirts of town on Versailles Road. A dedicated Christian, Raymond D. Aubrey was convinced during the tent revival that the community was in great need of a Baptist Church. Through much prayer, faith, and planning, Hillcrest Baptist Church was on its way, meeting in homes and yards around the neighborhood. On December 2, 1941 a meeting was held in the basement of a grocery store and motel owned by Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Day, located at 1424 Versailles Road. There was a group of 18 families and individuals along with Rev. and Mrs. R. D. Aubrey. They met together and called a business meeting for December 3, 1941]. On December 3, 1941 the first business meeting of Hillcrest Baptist Church was held. Rev. R. D. Aubrey was elected as moderator and pastor. Other church officers were also elected. On December 7, 1941 the first regular church service was held. It was the beginning of growing a new church. Rev. R. D. Aubrey had just begun his sermon when J. B. Day interrupted him with an alarming announcement. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. Rev. Aubrey had special prayer for the men and women who would go to war and fight for their country and also a prayer for the men and women at Pearl Harbor. While 3,000 precious lives were lost at Pearl Harbor, 20 fervent Christians met thousands of miles away to form Hillcrest Baptist Church. In 1944 the church bought property and decided the building would be in three phases. First the basement, second the education building, and then the auditorium. The basement was completed in 1944. On September 2, 1944 a bell was placed on top of the church and rang one half hour before each service. On April 25, 1948 Rev. R. D. Aubrey turned to a new calling and resigned as pastor. On September 1, 1948 Rev. Ira McMillan, Jr. came from the Carlisle Baptist Church in Carlisle, Kentucky to become the second pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church. He left the end of August 1953. In 1953 Rev. Paul Hatfield, the third pastor, came from a church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hillcrest had a membership of 519, a Sunday school enrollment of 616, and a Training Union enrollment of 57. The church was not in the new colonial style, red brick structure that included a 750-seat auditorium. In 1956, Dr. Ellis Tiffany the fourth pastor, moved to Lexington from Arkansas. He stayed at Hillcrest less than a year. In December 1957, Rev. Donald White was called to be the fifth pastor. He served as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church from January 1958 until December 22, 1991. On August 16, 1992, Rev. Chuck Overton was called to be the sixth pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church. He served as pastor until December 27, 1998. On January 3, 1999, Dr. Tony A. Hancock preached as pulpit supply. On February 7, 1999, Dr. Tony A. Hancock was called, by unanimous vote, to be interim pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church. On February 28, 1999 the church ordained Dr. Tony A. Hancock to the Gospel Ministry. On June 6, 1999, Rev. Tony A. Hancock was called by 77 unanimous votes to be the seventh pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church.
In 1941 there was a tent revival on the outskirts of town on Versailles Road. A dedicated Christian, Raymond D. Aubrey was convinced during the tent revival that the community was in great need of a Baptist Church. Through much prayer, faith, and planning, Hillcrest Baptist Church was on its way, meeting in homes and yards around the neighborhood. On December 2, 1941 a meeting was held in the basement of a grocery store and motel owned by Mr. & Mrs. J. B. Day, located at 1424 Versailles Road. There was a group of 18 families and individuals along with Rev. and Mrs. R. D. Aubrey. They met together and called a business meeting for December 3, 1941]. On December 3, 1941 the first business meeting of Hillcrest Baptist Church was held. Rev. R. D. Aubrey was elected as moderator and pastor. Other church officers were also elected. On December 7, 1941 the first regular church service was held. It was the beginning of growing a new church. Rev. R. D. Aubrey had just begun his sermon when J. B. Day interrupted him with an alarming announcement. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor. Rev. Aubrey had special prayer for the men and women who would go to war and fight for their country and also a prayer for the men and women at Pearl Harbor. While 3,000 precious lives were lost at Pearl Harbor, 20 fervent Christians met thousands of miles away to form Hillcrest Baptist Church. In 1944 the church bought property and decided the building would be in three phases. First the basement, second the education building, and then the auditorium. The basement was completed in 1944. On September 2, 1944 a bell was placed on top of the church and rang one half hour before each service. On April 25, 1948 Rev. R. D. Aubrey turned to a new calling and resigned as pastor. On September 1, 1948 Rev. Ira McMillan, Jr. came from the Carlisle Baptist Church in Carlisle, Kentucky to become the second pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church. He left the end of August 1953. In 1953 Rev. Paul Hatfield, the third pastor, came from a church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hillcrest had a membership of 519, a Sunday school enrollment of 616, and a Training Union enrollment of 57. The church was not in the new colonial style, red brick structure that included a 750-seat auditorium. In 1956, Dr. Ellis Tiffany the fourth pastor, moved to Lexington from Arkansas. He stayed at Hillcrest less than a year. In December 1957, Rev. Donald White was called to be the fifth pastor. He served as pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church from January 1958 until December 22, 1991. On August 16, 1992, Rev. Chuck Overton was called to be the sixth pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church. He served as pastor until December 27, 1998. On January 3, 1999, Dr. Tony A. Hancock preached as pulpit supply. On February 7, 1999, Dr. Tony A. Hancock was called, by unanimous vote, to be interim pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church. On February 28, 1999 the church ordained Dr. Tony A. Hancock to the Gospel Ministry. On June 6, 1999, Rev. Tony A. Hancock was called by 77 unanimous votes to be the seventh pastor of Hillcrest Baptist Church.
