The Church of the Ascension

Historical marker location:

Frankfort, Kentucky

( 311 Washington St., Frankfort)

In January 1836 the first Bishop of Kentucky, the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Bosworth Smith, received from the Church of the Ascension on Canal Street in New York City a "gift or loan" to found an Episcopal Church in Frankfort. The present church building was erected in 1850 with funds donated by Judge John Harris Hanna, first president of the Farmers Bank.

(Reverse) The Church of the Ascension - First full-time rector was the Reverend John N. Norton. Throughout the Civil War, the parish remained united. The parish founded first free school for the poor in Frankfort and furnished a home for orphans from 1859 to 1939 on this site. It sponsored the first library in Frankfort. Many of Kentucky's Governors have worshipped here.

Episcopal Church library