Historical marker dedication for Belmont Church and Koinonia Coffeehouse. Church members and prominent Contemporary Christian artists Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant spoke at the dedication ceremony, 2019. Image courtesy of MHC.

Belmont Church, 2018. Image courtesy of MHCF.

Front facade of Belmont Church, formerly Belmont Avenue church of Christ. Image courtesy of MHCF.

A former H.G. Hills Grocery Store, Koinonia Bookstore and Coffeehouse opened in the 1970s as a ministry of Belmont Church. It often hosted Contemporary Christian artists such as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Honeytree, Randy Mathews, Don Francisco and many others. Image courtesy of MHC.

Historical marker dedication for Belmont Church and Koinonia Coffeehouse. Church members and prominent Contemporary Christian artists Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant spoke at the dedication ceremony, 2019. Image courtesy of MHC.

Music Row Neighborhood

Stop 19 of 25

Belmont Church

Before Music Row was Music Row, it was a just a quaint neighborhood set between Belmont University and Midtown. In 1911, well before the music industry was an important part of Nashville, the Church of Christ, a sect of the Disciples of Christ, looked to establish 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 E, then called the Belmont Avenue Church of Christ. Ironically, this church originally forbade instrumental music in their services.

David Lipscomb passed away in 1917, but the Church of Christ continued to play a large role in the city. This building was completed in the 1930s. After World War II, the church endured several years of declining membership, but in the 1970s, the Belmont Church experienced new growth due to the growing popularity of their then pastor, Don Finto, who was also a professor at Lipscomb University. Under Finto’s leadership, the church was renamed Belmont Church and also made the decision to allow instrumental music. In 2002, Belmont Church expanded into the neighboring building, which 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 fortunately, they continue to embrace music as part of their services.

Turn LEFT and cross Grand Avenue. Continue walking north up Music Square East, passing South Street. Quonset Hut will be on your right.

Navigate to Next Stop

Tour Stops

Owen Bradley Park, Musica Statue, Buddy Killen Circle

1 Music Square East at Division Street

ASCAP and Sony Music

2 Music Square West, Nashville, TN 37203

Tree Publishing, Former Fire Hall No. 7

16 Music Square West, Nashville, TN

RCA Studio B

1611 Roy Acuff Place, Nashville, TN 37203

Carnival Music and Mural

24 Music Square West, Number 2, Nashville TN

RCA Studio A

30 Music Square West, Number 100, Nashville, TN 37203

Word Entertainment

25 Music Square West, Nashville, TN

Starstruck Studios

40 Music Square West, Nashville TN

iHeartMedia

55 Music Square West, Nashville, TN 37203

Quadrafonic or Quad Studios, Round Hill Music

1802 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

Scarritt Bennett Center

1027 Eighteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Ocean Way Nashville Studios

1200 Seventeenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Little Sisters of the Poor, now Vanderbilt University

1400 Eighteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Allentown Studios, formerly Jack’s Tracks

1308 Sixteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

PLA Media

1303 Sixteenth Avenue South A, Nashville, TN 37212

Big Machine Records

1219 Sixteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

House of David

1205 Sixteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Landmark Community Bank, formerly CBS Songs and Sony Music

1013 Sixteenth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37212

Belmont Church

68 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

Curb College, Quonset Hut, and Columbia Records

34 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

SESAC and Country Music Association (CMA)

35 Music Square East, Nashville TN

Decca Records

27 Music Square East, Nashville, Tennessee 37203

Warner Music and Warner Production

21 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

BMI and Frances Preston

10 Music Square East Nashville, TN 37203

Spence Manor Motor Hotel and Webb Pierce Guitar Swimming Pool

11 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

Full Record & Citation

Title Belmont Church

Creator Nashville Historical Foundation

Author Davis Deaton, Belmont Student; October, 2018

Date 1915

Address 68 Music Square East, Nashville, TN 37203

Description Lead by David Lipscomb (1831-1917), Belmont Church of Christ was founded in 1911, associated with the conservative sect of the Disciples of Christ. The groundbreaking for the extant chapel occurred in 1915 at what is now 68 Music Square East. Embracing the Spiritual Renewal of the 1970s, the church dropped their denominational ties and changed their name to Belmont Church. After slow growth over many years, Belmont Church rented and later purchased the adjacent building, which was originally an H.G. Hill grocery store, turning it into Koinonia (Greek for fellowship) Bookstore and Coffee Shop. Rising Christian artists such as Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith often played at the open-mic nights. Still operating in 2019, the church sees approximately 800 visitors each week.

Type Building

Coverage Area 3

Source Belmont church of Christ, original owner

Contributor H.G. Hill; David Lipscomb; Koinonia Coffee Shop; Amy Grant; Michael W. Smith

Subject Entertainment; Industry; Music; Neighborhoods; New South; Religion

Keywords Buildings, Churches, Churches of Christ, Lipscomb University, Music Industry, Music Row, Belmont Church

Rights CC BY-NC 4.0

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