200 Years of Ministry

Vine Street Christian Church in Nashville, Tennessee
is celebrating 200 years of ministry

Tracing its beginnings to 1820, Vine Street Christian Church is celebrating 200+1 years of witness and service in Nashville and beyond. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all anniversary plans for 2020 had to be canceled, but in 2021 the congregation was ready to celebrate: plans still had to be pared down because of the pandemic, but looking back on a very difficult year, our gratitude was even greater for all those in generations past who proclaimed the faithfulness of God in all manner of circumstances.

Listed below is information about the anniversary events as well as a news and image archives that we hope will be meaningful for this and future generations.

Upcoming Dates

Sep 15, 7pm

Carole Bucy – Nashville in the 1820s

Livestream on Facebook

As part of our bicentennial celebrations, it is our privilege to learn from Dr. Carole Bucy, who holds the honorary position of Davidson County Historian.

She will tell us about Nashville in the 1820s, and she will help us imagine and understand a little better what life in Nashville was like in those years.

Carole Bucy is professor of history at Volunteer State Community College. She holds degrees in history from Baylor University, George Peabody College, and Vanderbilt University.

Sep 22, 7pm

Carole Bucy – Nashville in the 1920s

Carole Bucy will continue her discussion of Nashville in the 1920s, sharing how the city evolved over the first 100 years of Vine Street’s existence.

In Nashville, she regularly teaches classes for the public known as “Nashville 101 and 102” as a way to help local Nashvillians learn and appreciate the city’s history. Carole has been a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church for 46 years.

Oct 20

Metro Nashville Historical Markers

We will celebrate the installation of two Metro Nashville Historical Markers on Wednesday, October 20. The first will be located near the site of the downtown church, at the corner of 7th (then called Vine Street) and Church. The second will be installed in front of the current Vine Street along Harding Pike. Read more

Oct 23

Anniversary Festival

A “pinnacle” of our Anniversary celebration will be the weekend of October 23rd and 24th.

We will truly open Vine Street to our neighborhood and community, starting with food, games, music and simply social time together on Saturday, the 23rd. We will use both our newly-renovated church building and yards to spread out and enjoy this time together. Our new carillon will send out its music from the steeple while we welcome you, and all, to this fun day. Gabe Dixon will help end the day with a set of his extraordinary music!

Oct 24, 10am

Celebration Worship and Reception

Sunday, October 24th, will center on Vine Street’s 200 years of worship together. Rev. Dr. Dan Moseley, Herald B. Monroe Professor of Practical parish ministry at Christian Theological Seminary, emeritus, and former Senior Minister of our congregation, will preach at our 10:00 am morning worship. The Vine Street choir will perform, for the first time, the anthem written by David N. Childs and commissioned for our Anniversary celebration. Following the worship service, we will gather in our newly-renovated Fellowship Hall to raise toasts, hear remarks from church and community leaders, and share together the Vine Street stories that we each bring to our own part of this amazing 200-year heritage of faith and witness in Nashville and across the world.

Art & Music

Commissioned Painting by Phil Ponder

Purchase Prints and cards here

During the reception following worship on Sunday, October 24, we will unveil a painting of our church by Nashville artist, Phil Ponder. Limited edition prints, numbered and signed, will be available for purchase. We are pleased that Mr. Ponder will be present for the unveiling, and he will personalize prints with a brief note, if desired.

Phil Ponder, a visual historian, has spent the past 40+ years documenting historic structures in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. He has also painted points of interest across the United States and around the globe. Ponder is best-known for his limited edition prints of skylines and famous buildings. His unique style is accomplished through a combination of pen and ink/watercolor techniques, emphasizing great detail and warmth of color.

Commissioned Anthem by David Childs

Vine Street commissioned composer David N. Childs to write an anthem to celebrate our two hundred years of ministry in Nashville. Based on Micah 6:8 and entitled “Walk Humbly with God”, this anthem speaks beautifully to Vine Street’s identity and mission.

When considering composers for this anthem, Mr. Childs was our first choice. He has a direct tie to the Nashville music community, having served as Associate Professor of Choral Studies at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music from 2001 to 2011. His stunning melody lines and lush harmonies combined with exquisite writing for the piano have put him at the forefront of contemporary choral music. Chancel Choir director, T.J. McLaughlin, says, “David is a master at bringing text to life. His use of word painting through melody, harmony, and structure create many treasures for singers to discover throughout the learning process and take listeners on a spiritual journey.”

The premiere performance of this piece will be in worship on Sunday, October 24, 2021.

In The News

Mainstreet Nashville

Vine Street Christian Church kicks off 200th anniversary celebration

Vine Street Christian Church, marking 201 years of witness and service in Nashville, will celebrate belated 200th anniversary events, including two historical lectures led by Dr. Carole Bucy, who holds the honorary position of Davidson County historian.

Mainstreet Nashville

201-year-old Vine Street Christian Church grew from progressive roots

There’s a church in Nashville that, for 201 years, has approached worship differently in hopes that the community might hear of its message through the grapevine and take heart in the ideas of individualism and inclusion behind the fruits of its labor.

News Channel 5

Beloved Nashville artist commissioned for church's bicentennial painting

Vine Street Christian Church on Harding Pike has a firm foundation in Nashville -- one that stretches back to when the church was actually on Vine Street.

Watch the News Story

Mainstreet Nashville

Vine Street Christian Church: Keeping its name and the faith for 200 years

When my congregation, Vine Street Christian Church in Nashville, moved to its current location in 1958, it kept its name. The building no longer stood on Vine Street (now Seventh Avenue North), but to the people, the name was much more than merely a reference to an address.

News Channel 5

Vine Street Christian Church

Vine Street Christian Church has been a staple in the Nashville community for over 200 years. Ben Hall sits down with Rev. Dr. Thomas Kleinert, Senior Minister of Vine Street Christian Church, in this episode of Issues of Faith.

Watch the episode

The Tennessean

Why 200 years later, Vine Street Christian Church's progressivism is still an 'ongoing process'

Reflecting on its 200-year-long legacy, Vine Street Christian Church is proud that it gained the reputation of being a relatively progressive church. But to retain that title as it moves into the future, leaders and lay members acknowledge there is a lot of work to still do.

Read the article

Covid Prevention Measures

We continue to monitor the state of the pandemic. For all live events we will require masks and provide hand sanitizing stations and encourage social distancing. Due to the pandemic, some events may be virtual only.