Churches in Nashville

Nashville's Christian infrastructure

Nashville's influence on American Christianity extends far beyond its church attendance. The city houses:

• Lifeway Christian Resources — the publishing and retail arm of the Southern Baptist Convention; produces Sunday school curriculum, study Bibles, and devotional materials used in tens of thousands of churches nationally
• Christian music industry — Nashville is the headquarters of most major Christian music labels (Capitol Christian Music Group, Word Entertainment) and home to many of the most prominent Christian artists; worship music recorded in Nashville is sung in churches worldwide
• Multiple Christian universities — Belmont University, Lipscomb University (Churches of Christ), Trevecca Nazarene University, and Vanderbilt Divinity School all operate in the Nashville area
• Southern Baptist Convention headquarters — the SBC's Executive Committee and many SBC entities are based in Nashville

Notable Nashville churches

• Cross Point Church — multi-site non-denominational church; large young adult presence; well-known in the Christian music and creative communities; several campuses across Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
• Brentwood Baptist Church — one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in Tennessee; suburban Brentwood campus; conservative evangelical with strong programming.
• The People's Church, Franklin — large evangelical congregation in the rapidly growing Williamson County area south of Nashville.
• Cornerstone Nashville — large non-denominational congregation; strong young adult and family programming.
• Otter Creek Church — large Churches of Christ congregation; more progressive than many CofC congregations; known for thoughtful preaching.
• Immanuel Baptist Church — historic Baptist congregation in Green Hills; theologically conservative; known for expository preaching.
• Belmont Church — charismatic evangelical congregation near Belmont University; deep roots in Nashville's Christian music community; known for excellent worship.
• Christ Presbyterian Church (CPC), Nashville — large PCA congregation; theologically Reformed; known for serious biblical preaching and a strong community ethos.
• Cathedral of the Incarnation — the Cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Nashville; serves a rapidly growing Catholic population as Nashville attracts new residents from across the country.

African American churches in Nashville

Nashville has a deep African American church heritage shaped by the city's HBCU institutions (Fisk University, Tennessee State University, Meharry Medical College) and its civil rights history:

• Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church — historic Black Baptist congregation near Fisk University
• Nashville's AME and CME congregations — significant presence across North Nashville and the historically Black neighborhoods near HBCUs
• Full Gospel Tabernacle — prominent Black Pentecostal congregation

Church planting in Nashville

Nashville's rapid population growth — it has been one of the fastest-growing cities in America — has driven significant church planting activity:

• The 12South, East Nashville, Germantown, and Gulch neighborhoods have attracted multiple church plants targeting young professionals and creatives
• Acts 29, Redeemer City to City, and the PCA's Mission to North America have all planted churches in Nashville in the past decade
• Many transplants from the coasts have joined or started churches in Nashville's growing urban neighborhoods

Frequently asked questions

Is Nashville only Southern Baptist?

No — though the SBC culture is dominant, Nashville has excellent churches across every tradition. The PCA has strong congregations, the Churches of Christ have significant institutional presence (Lipscomb University), the Catholic diocese is growing rapidly, and charismatic and non-denominational churches are well-represented. The influx of new residents from the Northeast and West Coast has diversified the city's church options significantly.

What neighborhoods are best for church community in Nashville?

For young adults and professionals: East Nashville, 12South, Germantown, and Sylvan Park have the most active church plant communities. For established family-oriented churches: Brentwood, Franklin, and the Green Hills/Belle Meade area have the largest and most programmatically rich congregations.