Rev Francis P Green

Rev. Francis Green was the Pastor at First Baptist Church of Walnut Hills from 1903 to 1948. He came to the church at a time when the wood frame building on Foraker Ave. had been condemned and the church had been with a regular minister for 2 years. Pastor Green breathed new life into the congregation, challenging them to build a large brick building at the corner of Lincoln and Park Aves. His vision was for a church that would become an anchor in the growing Black community -- not only in Walnut Hills but in neighboring hill areas as well. The sanctuary could seat 500 and soon became a venue for non-church events such as Black conventions and lectures.
In 1926, just after the church had paid off the mortgage for the building, Pastor Green again challenged the congregation to expand the facility, this time to add a pipe organ and space for offices and Sunday Schools. The notable musician, Clinton Gibbs, returned to First Baptist to lead a nationally recognized music program. This mortgage was paid off in 1944, 4 years before Green's retirement.
Under Green's leadership, church membership grew to over 300, with many congregants playing important roles in Cincinnati's civic and government life.