Koinonia Coffee House and Belmont Church

On the corner of Grand and Music Square is a building that looks like an old five and dime store in the years before you were born. That’s because that is what it was—and then it became the Koinonia Coffee House. Koinonia is a Greek word and theological term that means “place of Christian fellowship or communion.” This is where young singers and songwriters, such as Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, met and performed in the early days of the contemporary Christian music scene during the 1970s. Business at Koinonia boomed in the 1970s and 1980s, in part, because of their next-door neighbor—the Belmont Church.

In 1911, well before the music industry was an important part of Nashville, the Church of Christ established a new congregation in this area. This was due, in large part, to the prolific preaching and leadership of David Lipscomb. Lipscomb was also one of the co-founders of today’s Lipscomb University. In 1915, the local Church of Christ built a new chapel on what is now 68 Music Square East. Ironically, this church originally did not allow instrumental music in their services. 

The building you see here today was completed in the 1930s. In the 1970s, the Belmont Church experienced new growth under the leadership of Pastor Don Finto. He shortened the name to Belmont Church and also decided to allow instrumental music. In 2002, Belmont Church expanded into the neighboring building. Believe it or not, it was originally an H.G. Hill grocery store.

Belmont Church has also had a major impact on the contemporary Christian music scene with the help of congregation members Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant. The church continues to operate on Music Row today and they continue to embrace music as part of their service. 

It’s time to get your heart rate up a bit so boogie on down to the corner of Music Square East and South Street, then cross over South. There’s a crosswalk there but be careful—we have drivers who are distracted. When you get to the other side of South—take a break and take a deep breath. That’s if you made it.