Long Range Plans.htm

The History of First United Methodist Church

A "Methodist Society" was first organized in Franklin and a building raised around 1800. Bishop Frances Asbury, the founding bishop of American Methodism, preached at the church on November 4, 1812. This building was located at the end of Church Street where it intersects with First Avenue, South. The land for this church was donated in 1799 by Abram Maury, the founder of Franklin, at the time the town was founded. This makes First United Methodist the oldest congregation in Franklin.

In 1839, the church was moved to the northeast corner of Second Avenue and Church Street. During the Civil War, the church was occupied by Federal troops, and church records and membership rolls were destroyed.

The present triangular lot was acquired by the decree of Chancery Court in April, 1869. The present sanctuary was built and services began in 1871. The membership at that time was 228.

In 1916, the annex was built containing 15 Sunday School rooms. In 1949, a basement which seated 200 was constructed under the Sanctuary. In 1965, the older education building across the street was built for more classroom space, and the Fellowship Hall, kitchen, and additional classrooms were added in a second phase in 1974.

Across the street from the Sanctuary, the Kenneday House was acquired from church members. Built in 1835, this historic building is now home to staff offices and administrative space.

In 1995 the historic Sanctuary was refurbished, the bell tower was restored, and the steeple replaced. The original steeple was blown off in a storm over seventy years ago. The new steeple, made of zinc, is as close to the original wooden one as possible. A beautiful gold-plated cross was added to the top of the steeple at this time. It stands high above the city skyline to affirm that we are all marked as disciples of Jesus Christ. When the steeple was rebuilt the original bell, which had been stored in a barn, was re-hung. It is rung every Sunday before the services of worship.

On June 29, 1997, the new Education - Activities Center was consecrated. This 37,000 square foot building marks a new era in the ministry of historic Franklin First United Methodist Church. This building houses an enlarged commercial kitchen, classrooms from nursery to youth, and a new Activity Center which is used for physical activity, concerts, special services of worship, drama, and other events, as well as housing our 8:30 worship service every Sunday morning.

Our congregation is now, in 2007, at approximately 2,750 members. There are people from every age represented in our congregation. Continuing to discern God's vision for the future, we maintain a long-term commitment that will carry our congregation beyond the twenty-first century.

Future Plans of

Franklin First United Methodist Church

February 9, 2007 – PRESS RELEASE

Franklin First United Methodist Church Completes Land Purchase

            FRANKLIN, Tenn. – Franklin First United Methodist Church, which has called downtown Franklin home since its founding in 1799, on Friday closed on the purchase of a 107-acre former horse farm off Mack Hatcher Parkway for its future location.
            The $5.8 million land purchase culminates a year of negotiations and almost four years of study since the growing 2,700-member church created a long-range planning committee to evaluate its facility options.
            “The journey has been long and hard, but the final destination will make it all worthwhile,” the Rev. Lynn Hill wrote in the church’s weekly newsletter. “For the first time in many years, FUMC will be positioned to be in ministry for the next 200 years with no concerns for the lack of land hampering what God can do with us and what we can do together.”
            The church has hired Nashville architect Kem Hinton, of Tuck Hinton Architects, who will begin developing a master plan. However, at this point, there is no timetable for breaking ground and moving in. “Construction begins when we have reduced our land debt to sufficient size so we can take on additional debt for building,” Hill said.
            The church eventually plans to sell its downtown property except for its historic sanctuary, which will be retained to hold special worship services, community events and outreach activities. The sanctuary, which lies on the triangular corner of Church Street and Fifth Avenue, was completed in 1871 when membership was approximately 250.
            The church has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, with worship attendance up substantially and children’s Sunday school attendance up more than 80 percent since 2000. To keep up with the growth, the church has added additional worship services and transformed its gymnasium into a second worship space. Currently, the church holds four services on Sunday mornings – two in the historic sanctuary and two more concurrently in the gymnasium sanctuary. It also has added a second Sunday school hour.
            “This makes the fourth time since 1799 that Franklin First UMC has relocated,” said Hill, adding that the first three homes were in downtown Franklin. “Each time, the relocation was driven by the congregation’s desire to provide more space and facilities for all who would become a part of this faith community. This property, which is inside the Mack Hatcher Parkway, makes this beautiful site very close to our present downtown location, which has been an important consideration for us.”
            Hill said the sprawling farmland will allow the church to enlarge its worship space “so that all persons who gather will find a place that is warm, inviting and welcoming.” The move will expand education space, accommodate more children and youth in its numerous programs and provide greater space and flexibility for mission and outreach work.
            “The driving force behind this expansion has never been to see how big we can get or to call attention to ourselves,” said Hill. “It has always been to make sure that at FUMC, there would always be a place at the table for all who wanted to come.”
            The land lies directly across from Battle Ground Academy and was purchased from Dr. Dunklin Bowman, a Nashville dentist. Of the 15 sites considered by the church’s site selection committee, the Mack Hatcher property was far and above the preferred site. Site selection and Building Committee Chair, John Schroer stated that this is an important gateway property for Franklin and it is the church’s intention to “build a traditional looking church which preserves the natural beauty of the site and reflects the historic character of Franklin.”
            In a called church conference in February 2006, the church overwhelmingly voted to acquire this site and affirmed the work of a capital funds committee already established by the church’s Board of Ministry. Its “Legacy of Faith” fund-raising campaign began in spring 2006 and “resulted in a large percentage of church donors pledging beyond their regular financial support,” said Ronald Griffeth, the campaign’s chairman. “This allowed the church to secure the property and begin to plan for the new church home.”

Closing on the Mack Hatcher By-Pass Property (106.151 acres)
Friday, February 9, 2007