BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
WITH THE PAST IN MIND

1876 – Present

Blackman United Methodist Church has a long and rich history of ministry as a part the Blackman Community in Rutherford County. The original church building for Blackman Methodists (then a part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South) was erected in 1876 on what is now Baker Road and named Brown’s Chapel in recognition of its first pastor, Alanson Brown. Land and materials for the building, that doubled as a school house, were generously provided by Alfred W. Blackman, a prominent member of the community.

After serving as a church and school house for several years the Methodist congregation abandoned the building until 1923, at which time it was put onto the Stones River Circuit in the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

In 1961, C.P. and Pearl McDonald donated a parcel of land on Manson Pike, where a new sanctuary was built, and the worshiping congregation became known as Blackman Methodist Church.

In 1970, Lyle and Jenny Margaret McDonald, and Dennis H. and Frances McDonald continued the family tradition of generosity by donating additional land to the then named Blackman United Methodist Church. At this time Sunday School rooms and other facilities were added to the rear of the church building, with exterior space for a driveway and parking.

Three acquisitions of land, donated by Thomas M. Lane, along with many other time, material and labor contributions by members and friends of the church allowed for additional parking and a much-needed new sanctuary for the growing congregation. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 22, 1987 and the new sanctuary was dedicated later that year on the 20th day of September.

However, like the people of Israel in the Old Testament, Blackman United Methodists were not to worship for very long in one spot. It became apparent in the mid-1990’s that the State of Tennessee had plans for a new highway through the Blackman Community and members met to prayerfully consider the future.

In response to this latest challenge the church, with courage, conviction, and prayerful determination, picked up (literally) and moved just up Manson Pike to our current location. On November 22, 1998, Bishop Kenneth L. Carder led members and friends of Blackman United Methodist Church in dedicating their newest building free of debt. In the early 2000’s the church added additional meeting and classroom space to the existing facility to bring the building to its current size.

As grateful as we are for the wonderful past we have as Blackman United Methodist Church, we are even more excited for the future as we strive to build God’s Kingdom in this evolving community. And we are confident that the same God who prompted Alanson Brown, Alfred W. Blackman and so many other faithful Christ-followers through the years will continue to bless our efforts to create a welcoming Christian community dedicated to the glory of God in the Blackman Community.