Where to Worship: Churches in the Historic Heart of Downtown Franklin

Where to Worship: Churches in the Historic Heart of Downtown Franklin

For those seeking a place of worship in the new year, Williamson County is an excellent place to begin the search. With well over 100 churches in our corner of the Bible Belt, there is a wide range of denominations and congregations to choose from. Several beautiful and historic churches reside right in the heart of Downtown Franklin.

Cornerstone Presbyterian Church

Cornerstone Presbyterian Church was established by the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) in 2011. The church offers Sunday worship services at 8 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., with Sunday school classes starting at 9:45 a.m. Led by Senior Pastor Nate Shurden, Cornerstone believes in the communal practice of faith through weekly worship, spiritual education, small groups, and service.

The church has been located at the corner of Church & 3rd in Downtown Franklin since March of 2012. The historic building was built in 1849, and served as a hospital for the sick and wounded during the Battle of Franklin. After being damaged in the Civil War, it was rebuilt, then rebuilt again in 1890 after a fire. The church is proud of its rich history and its symbol of transformation and healing. Cornerstone Presbyterian is affiliated with several local, national, and global missions that offer service opportunities for members.

136 3rd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064

Fourth Avenue Church of Christ

Fourth Avenue Church of Christ has been around for over 190 years. The congregation is led by Executive Minister Gary Shrader. Worship services are 9:30 a.m. Sundays, followed by 11 a.m. Bible classes available for all ages. The church also gathers on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. for prayer meetings and additional classes. The core mission of the church is to “love God, serve others, and share Jesus.” In light of this, Fourth Avenue offers several ministry opportunities and vibrant youth programs, including Little School, a preschool program that has been around for 30 years.

The church itself dates all the way back to 1830, when American clergyman and writer Alexander Campbell travelled to Tennessee and inspiration struck to unite Christians across denominations in Downtown Franklin. The first gathering took place in 1833 and consisted of 17 members. The current building was built in 1978 and has since remained a pillar of Christian faith for the Franklin community.

117 4th Avenue North, Franklin, TN 37064

Franklin First United Methodist Church

Franklin First United Methodist Church  was the very first church in Franklin, established in 1799. The church offers a range of services, held at their Main Campus and in the Historic Sanctuary. Modern worship services are held at the Main Campus Sundays at 8:30 and 11:15 a.m., with a more traditional worship service at 10 a.m. A liturgical “Word and Table” service is offered in the Historic Sanctuary Sundays at 8:30 a.m. Franklin First is led by Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Bryan Brooks, and Pastor of Historic Sanctuary and Missions Reverend Carlisle Jones.

Among a variety of other missions and member resources, Franklin First offers a special needs ministry. They supply accessibility aids for worship services and Sunday school, along with a sensory room. The Davis Wright Playground, located on their main campus, is one of few sensory-driven, handicap-accessible playgrounds in Middle Tennessee.

Historic Sanctuary: 148 5th Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37604

Main Campus at Mack Hatcher: 120 Aldersgate Way, Franklin, TN 37069

Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church

Historic Franklin Presbyterian Church carries the torch of a 200-year-old legacy of worship on the corner of Fifth and Main. The core values of the congregation are relationship, worship, and mission. Services take place Sundays at 10:15 a.m. Sunday school is at 9 a.m. The church welcomed new pastor Reverend Claire Berry on December 22, 2024. Outside of regular service hours, the church gathers the last Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. for programming and opens its doors to host musicians and visual artists the first Friday of each month.

The building where Franklin Presbyterian Church resides was established in 1842, and still houses the bell and pews from the original church, plus reproductions of the stained glass windows and original architecture that was damaged by fire in 1905. Over the years, the historic structure has persevered through significant damages and reconstruction, and still remains a beautiful pillar of faith in the heart of downtown.

435 Main Street, Franklin, TN 37064

Saint Philip Catholic Church

Saint Philip Catholic Church is a multicultural parish led by Father Edward F. Steiner. Saint Philip holds 7 a.m. Mass Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. Mass Monday-Saturday. There are Saturday Vigil services at 5:00 p.m. and Adoration services Tuesdays from 5-6 p.m., Thursdays from 5:50-6:50 p.m., and First Fridays 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. There is a bilingual 7 a.m. mass on Sundays, followed by services at 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., and 5 p.m.

The parish participates in global and local outreach. Notably, St. Philip’s Hispanic Ministry fills the need for spiritual education, mentorship, and services in the language of community members. Masses are performed in Spanish on Sundays at 1 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. The Hispanic ministry also provides doctrinal and sacramental mentorship for Spanish speaking members.

113 2nd Avenue South, Franklin, TN 37064

Generations Church

Generations Church is a Non-Denomination church with worship services at 10 a.m. The church is led by founding and Senior Pastor Kraig Wall, who has a rich background in the contemporary Christian music genre. Generations has been a place of worship in Franklin since the winter of 2000. Sunday services are contemporary style and welcome members looking to deepen their relationship with Jesus and connect with community through membership and Life Groups. The church also supports local and global missions.

Alongside the church, Generations is a home for students. Generations Learning Center is a private daycare focused on holistic child development. Generations Christian Academy is a private, Christian institution for students PreK-12th grade, with an emphasis on biblically-based curriculum.

408 Church Street, Franklin TN, 37064

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was founded on August 25th, 1827. The parish is led by The Reverend W.R. “Rusty” McCown. Sunday Holy Eucharist services take place at 7:30, 8:45, and 11 a.m., with an evening service offered at 6 p.m. There is also a mid-week service Wednesdays at 12:05 p.m. The parish participates in several community outreach programs, and emphasizes that all are welcome within the church body.

The church building was completed in 1834 and has a rich history. When the Civil War began, the church closed its door and was occupied by Union soldiers. Evidence of the barracks are still visible today. Like many other historic churches in Franklin, St. Paul’s served as a hospital during the Battle of Franklin. When the war ended, the damaged church served as a carpenter’s shop and a horse stable. St. Paul’s was reconsecrated in 1871. Their doors are always open for those seeking spiritual guidance, worship, and fellowship.

510 West Main Street, Franklin TN, 37064

Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Franklin Cumberland Presbyterian is a historic and beautiful jewel in the heart of Downtown Franklin. It was built in 1876, and designed by legendary architect Hugh Cathcart Thompson, who is renowned for his work as architect of Nashville’s famous Ryman Auditorium. The building boasts impressive acoustics, and has a rich musical history. The church is a part of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, established in 1829. Sunday services take place at 11 a.m., following Sunday school at 10 a.m.

615 West Main Street, Franklin TN, 37604