Tulip Street United Methodist Church

The Tulip Street United Methodist Church was established in 1859 and moved to this location in 1892. The stunning church was designed by architects T.L. Dismukes and J.E. Woodward in the Romanesque Revival style. Look up and check out the terra cotta embellishments that adorn the grand entrance arch and also the church’s two towers. Note the bell tower, whose balconies are supported by winged gargoyles and the roof, supported by angels on each corner holding trumpets. It also features carillon bells in the east tower’s belfry. The carillon bells were originally part of the 1897 Centennial Exposition, which was held in Centennial Park. As the story goes, the bells were delivered late to the exposition, but workers finished the installation just in time to play for the arrival of President William McKinley, who visited the fair on June 20, 1897.

Tulip Street was one of the only churches to survive the Great East Nashville Fire of 1916, but in 1998 it wasn’t so lucky—suffering major damage during a tornado. If you look at the brick wall on the South 6th side of the church, you will see the repair with slightly different color and texture. After the tornado, the church bells played “Amazing Grace,” which “offered comfort and hope to the community,” according to the Tennessean newspaper. In 2017, the church was dissolved and the building was sold. The building was renovated and reopened as the nondenominational Nashville Vineyard Church in 2019.

Walk along the side of the church, following South 6th Street until you reach Fatherland St. Turn LEFT and begin the narrative for the next stop as you walk down Fatherland Street in the Edgefield neighborhood. Stop after you cross South 8th Street.