Watkins Park in Nashville in Davidson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Spruce Street Baptist Church

Photographed By Darren Jefferson Clay, November 11, 2022

1. Spruce Street Baptist Church Marker

Inscription. Spruce Street Baptist Church was originally a part of the First Colored Baptist Church, founded in 1848 as a "mission” of the First Baptist Church. Nashville's first black ordained minister, the Rev. Nelson G. Merry, served as pastor. In 1865, the church formally gained its autonomy from the white church. Spruce Street Baptist Church in 1895 became the second branch of the city's first black Baptist church to organize a separate assembly. Formerly located near Capitol Hill, under Pastor Dr. A.M. Townsend, the first alumnus of Meharry Medical College to serve on its board of trustees, in 1955 the church body moved into this edifice designed by the architectural firm of McKissack and McKissack.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3A 174.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1848.

Location. 36° 9.474′ N, 86° 48.256′ W. Marker is in Nashville, Tennessee, in Davidson County. It is in Watkins Park. Marker is at the intersection of Spruce Street and Pearl Street, on the right when traveling north on Spruce Street

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 504 Spruce St, Nashville TN 37203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. John Robert Lee Bradley (a few steps from this marker); Nashville Porter and Ale Brewery (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Blue Triangle YWCA (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pearl High School (approx. 0.3 miles away); William Edmondson (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Fisk Jubliee Singers (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Alfred Stieglitz Collection at Fisk University (approx. 0.4 miles away); Watkins Park (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nashville.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 28, 2020

2. Spruce Street Baptist Church Marker

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 28, 2020

3. Spruce Street Baptist Church Marker

Reverse side

Spruce Street Baptist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 28, 2020

4. Spruce Street Baptist Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 380 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 11, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 1, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.