Little Cedar Grove Baptist Church, Protestant church building in Brookville, Indiana.
Little Cedar Grove Baptist Church is a two-story brick building constructed in 1812 with original hand-hewn beams, pillars, and floor materials intact. The interior features an upper balcony section that remains a defining characteristic of the space.
The congregation formed in 1797 when settlers from Virginia and Kentucky established the first Baptist community in Franklin County under Elder William Tyner's leadership. The brick building rose about 15 years later as a durable landmark of early settlement.
The construction gained momentum after the New Madrid earthquake of 1811, which congregation members viewed as a divine message calling them to build. This interpretation shaped their determination to create a permanent place of worship.
The building sits near U.S. Route 52 on Little Cedar Road, southeast of Brookville, making it accessible from the highway. Those interested in learning more can find historical documents about the site at the Indiana State Library.
The walls contain defensive rifle ports that served double duty as both a place of worship and a potential refuge during frontier times. This practical feature reveals how security concerns shaped the building design of early settlements.
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