Churches of Capitol Hill

Here we are at First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill. At the southeast corner of the parking lot is the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Rosa L. Parks Boulevard. Parks was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger, which led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Many consider this event the start of the modern Civil Rights movement and many mark Dr. King’s assassination in 1968 as the end of this historic era.

But we’re really here to talk about a different intersection—a more spiritual one—the intersection of faith and the fight for social justice. Several church congregations played a central role in the Civil Rights era, but you are standing near the only one that remains near its original location—First Baptist Church, Capitol Hill. Also nearby are Spruce Street Baptist Church and Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. These three congregations all trace their roots to the First Colored Baptist Church, which began in 1835.

Others that played a significant role in the 1950s and 1960s include Gay Street Christian Church, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, and St. John A.M.E. Church. These congregations were located in Nashville’s prosperous Black business district before the Capitol Hill Redevelopment Program in the 1950s. And just down the road are Capers Memorial C.M.E. Church and Clark Memorial Methodist Church. You’ll hear more about Clark at our next stop.

African American churches boasted large memberships and were key supporters in the formation of the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference or NCLC. The NCLC was part of the larger Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. So, it’s only fitting that the site of these Black churches sits below the boulevard named for one of the greatest preachers and orators of all time.

The Reverend Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. of First Baptist, Capitol Hill attended the founding meeting of the SCLC in 1957 and the first meeting of the NCLC at Capers Memorial in 1958. Reverend Smith was NCLC’s first president and was also the president of the local NAACP chapter. First Baptist Church was a center for local Civil Rights activities—hosting non-violent workshops and housing administrative offices. In fact, the 124 students who conducted the first sit-in on February 13th met here for prayer before departing for downtown department stores. It’s also worth noting that the Reverend Joseph A. Johnson, Jr., of Capers Memorial, was the first African American student at Vanderbilt University.

African American churches in Nashville served as the organizational base of the NCLC and remained on the front lines through voter registration campaigns, economic boycotts, and efforts to desegregate grocery stores, hotels, and movie theaters. Most importantly, the NCLC supported the students’ more direct and confrontational methods. For example, the NCLC executive board funded the Freedom Rides that departed from Nashville. The powerful combination of churches and the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference resulted in an inspired cause and sustained call to action.

Before you leave, check out the large, modern concrete building on the south side of the parking lot. That’s Tennessee State University’s Avon Williams Jr. campus. As you learned earlier, Avon Williams was a lawyer who dedicated his life to Civil Rights. Even the TSU building was part of the fight for equal treatment with a court case that lasted nearly 30 years. Take our Downtown Schools and Education and Athens of the South tours to hear the full story of Geier v. Blanton.

Briefly backtrack by turning RIGHT onto Rev. Kelly M. Smith Way then turn LEFT onto Lifeway Plaza. On your left you’ll see Frankie Pierce Park. Learn more about Pierce on our Woman’s Suffrage tour and stop at the park and stretch your legs if you’d like. There are also three murals in the park as well as playgrounds, beach volleyball court, and dog park. 

Turn RIGHT onto 12th Ave N. Drive past Marathon Music Works, a former car manufacturing plant that now contains offices, music and event venues, a distillery, and retail stores. In a half mile, turn LEFT onto Jackson St. then RIGHT onto 14th Ave N. Clark Memorial United Methodist Church will be just ahead on your right. You can find street parking or park in the lot next to the church.