The First Church of Franklin

As Franklin marks its 225th anniversary this month, the area’s oldest church and congregation celebrates right along with it. 

“We were founded on the same day as the city of Franklin and county of Williamson,” notes Jody Todd, Director of Marketing, Outreach, and Communication for Franklin First United Methodist Church. “Abram Maury, who founded the city and county, was a Methodist and provided land for a Methodist Church.”

That original church structure, built on what is now First Avenue, no longer exists, but a description in an early journal describes it as a “neat little brick building along the Harpeth.”

The church would grow along with its community, building its second location on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Church in 1830, a third in 1871 (called the Historic Sanctuary), and the newest within the last decade on what is now the Main Campus at Mack Hatcher. Services are still held today in the Historic Sanctuary and Mack Hatcher.

From its earliest days, the church has welcomed all who want to come and worship.

"As the first church of Franklin there were multiple faiths who would come, even though it was a Methodist Church," says Todd. "We were open to anyone as a place of faith in what, back then, was a very frontier town. And I think that speaks to our value of inclusiveness, which continues today."

The church has a rich history full of stories that reflect the people, the different places in time, and the strong faith of the people who worshipped here. 

Todd shares an interesting piece of the church’s history leading up to the Civil War.

“Our church archivist, Lisa Billingsly, has done so much good work in uncovering parts of our past. And in our second location, we had a personal connection with the AME Church in the Pull-Tight building across the street. This was the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a Black congregation, and where that church stands was a school then. Members of our congregation would teach children in that school. And that was something perhaps not well-received within our Southern community at the time. It shows when you’re not exactly sure what decisions are right or wrong, when you show up with love, it never fails.”

And through the years, although much in the world has changed, the church has remained strong by staying true to its core principles. 

“What has remained consistent are the values we are built upon,” Todd says. “Values like courage, confidence, support and compassion. It’s these and other values that have carried us the past 225 years and it’s in those values that will continue to move us forward.

"When you have values and a moral system of what you define your life by, then no matter what circumstances come, you're able to work through them. And you're able to show up in your community the best way possible. And we show up because first, we are called to love. And I've seen that in this congregation time and time again."

The church will officially mark its 225th anniversary during the weekend of October 26th and 27th. The community is invited to a music program at Franklin First UMC’s Main Campus (120 Aldersgate Way) that Saturday evening called “Come Away to the Skies." Then, on Sunday, it all continues with a Trunk or Treat event for the kids. 

Franklin First United Methodist Church is led by Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Bryan Brooks. For more information, visit: franklinfumc.org