First Baptist Church East Nashville

Our first stop is the historic First Baptist Church of East Nashville, at the intersection of North 6th and Main Street. The First Baptist congregation actually predates this building by over half a century. The church was founded during Reconstruction in 1866 by the Reverend Randall B. Vandavall. Vandavall was born into slavery near Nashville and, at the age of 16, he joined the First Colored Baptist Mission and later professed to be a preacher. After his marriage to Martha Nicholson, he purchased their freedom for $1800 just before the Civil War. In 1864, he helped to establish Roger Williams University to train Black ministers and, two years later, began holding church services in his home. The congregation also met in the former Union Army barracks on Mark and Steward Streets and McClure’s Hall on Woodland Street. It was formally named First Baptist Church of East Nashville in 1882, and Vandavall served as the pastor until his death in 1898. 

Under the leadership of the Reverend W.S. Ellington, the congregation broke ground at this location in 1928. The church features a Classical Revival style with Art Deco stained-glass windows and three murals by Frances Euphemia Thompson—a local African American artist who served as the director of the Tennessee State University Art Department and designed the school’s seal. The First Baptist Church of East Nashville played an active role in the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements in Nashville. The church organized protests, raised money, hosted speakers, and worked closely with the Nashville branch of the NAACP. In 2005, the church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Reverend Vandavall would surely be proud of the continued presence of the church he founded over 150 years ago. 

Facing the church, turn RIGHT and walk east on Main Street to South 7th St. Turn LEFT  and walk to Ramsey St. You can see Meigs Middle Magnet School diagonally across the street. Then look straight ahead to Frederick Douglass Park for the second part of this stop.