Established in 1811, the historic church built its current structure in the early 1830’s. It is one of the earliest Presbyterian churches in middle Tennessee.
“We’ll recover,” said the Rev. David Jones, pastor of Harpeth church. “I’m not sure the building would be here if it weren’t for that new levee.” The levee was recently installed due to bridgework on a nearby road, which crosses the river close to the church.
“We worked all day Saturday as the river rose, sandbagging and moving furniture,” said church member Carrie Jones. A fire-and-water clean-up company worked on Sunday pumping out water, and was back on Monday setting up huge dryers in the sanctuary. Meanwhile, members removed damaged sheetrock to prevent mold damage.
Also struggling with water is the Village Church, housed in the Woodland Presbyterian Church in East Nashville. The basement of the building, where The Family Room outreach ministries is housed, is under four feet of water.
Other area congregations were flooded at ground-level including Westminster, Glencliff, Hillwood and Second. These congregations cleaned up on May 2, with several canceling worship services.
First Presbyterian Church of Nashville lost power but held worship at the regular 11:00 hour, confirming five of their 48-member confirmation class.
Meanwhile, a First Church-Franklin group on a retreat were stranded but safe at NaCoMe, Middle Tennessee Presbytery’s camp. They had difficulty, however, returning to Franklin because of the many flooded roads.
Middle Tennessee Presbytery Executive Presbyter the Rev. Phil Leftwich spent the morning of May 3 visiting damaged churches, and has applied for two grants from Presbyterian Disaster Assistance grants.
The presbytery also has established a relief fund, “Presbytery of Middle Tennessee Flood Relief.” Contributions may be sent to the presbytery at 318 Seaboard Lane, Ste. 205, Franklin, TN 37067.
Further volunteer opportunities will be organized as the waters recede and the needs emerge.
Janet Tuck is communications director for the Synod of Living Waters and a frequent contributor to Presbyterian News Service.
Tennessee churches inundated by floods: Middle Tennessee Presbytery, PDA assessing damage, needs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Harpeth Presbyterian Church was crawling with members May 3, cleaning up after the nearby Harpeth River overflowed its banks Saturday and Sunday, flooding this historic church in Brentwood, Tenn.
