Battle of Nashville & Beyond

  • Home
    • Resources
      • Franklin
      • Shiloh
    • About the Author
  • Tour Routes
    • Tour Route – 2 hours
    • Tour Route – 3 Hour
    • Tour Route – 6+ hours
  • Gunships vs Cavalry
    • Naval Battle Timeline
    • Brown Water Navy
    • The Gunboats of Nashville
      • Nashville Gunboats Photos
      • U.S.S. Cairo Virtual Tour
  • Kelley’s Point
    • Kelley’s Point Map
    • Kelley’s Point Naval Battle
    • 1936 Aerial Photo
    • Inset Zoom of Kelley’s Point
    • People of Interest
      • Le Roy Fitch
      • Mark Robertson Cockrill
      • Col. David C. Kelley
      • Richard W. Johnson
        • Battlefield Simulator
      • Hood’s Retreat
  • Blog
  • Hood’s Retreat
  • Virtual Battlefields
  • Athens-South Virtual Tours

September 14, 2017 By Bob Henderson Leave a Comment

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

Franklin Civil War Hospital and Barracks

 

Oldest Episcopal Church in Tennessee

510 West Main Street
Franklin, TN 37064
615-790-0527

“St. Paul’s Episcopal Church was founded on August 27, 1827 in a room of the Hiram Masonic Lodge #7 in Franklin, Tennessee. The church edifice was not started until 1831 and when completed in 1834 it was called a “three-decker” building which included the nave, slave galleries, and undercroft. 

When the War Between the States commenced the church closed its doors and the rector of St. Paul’s resigned and joined the Confederate Army of Tennessee.  In February of 1862 with the fall of Ft. Donelson, Franklin became occupied by Union soldiers who used the church as a barracks.  Being winter, the pews and pipe organ were burned for firewood. The interior columns were damaged to build watering troughs for the horses and this evidence is still visible today.  The fair linen became saddlecloths for the commanders’ horses.  Fortunately, the altar silver and Parish Register were saved—but only because they had been buried across the street.

Following the bloody Battle of Franklin on November 30, 1864, St. Paul’s was used as a hospital for wounded troops—first by the Federals and then later by the Confederates.  When it was all over, nothing much more than the thick walls were left intact.

After the war, the church was used as a carpenter’s shop and a stable for horses!  It was rat-infested in 1869 when Reverend Bradley from Memphis made plans to restore the sacred place.  He went across the country collecting donations and returned with nearly $2,000 in gold (a small fortune for the day).  The back taxes now having been paid, the roof was lowered as they removed the slave galleries that were no longer needed and the bricks were recycled to build Founder’s Hall behind the church to be used as a rectory for the priest’s family. St. Paul’s was re-consecrated in 1871 by Bishop Charles Todd Quintard who succeeded Bishop Otey, who had died during the war.  Later, in 1902, the church won a lawsuit against the United States government for damages sustained during the Civil War and was awarded a judgment of nearly $2,000”… read more about St. Paul’s

Virtual 360º Perspective


#civilwarchurch

Share this...Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Tumblr
Tumblr
Share on Reddit
Reddit
Share on StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Franklin, Tennessee, Virtual Tour

About Bob Henderson

I am a Certified Trusted Google Street View and Business View photographer. I shoot and produce 360º Virtual Tours in a variety of formats. Former Metro Historical Commission member. Native Nashvillian, served as an officer in the US Navy and Tennessee Air National Guard. Follow Bob on LinkedIn | Facebook

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook

Battlefield Trust

CWPT Link

Tennessee State Museum

DSC02614_5_6_7_8_opt

Fort Negley

Negely

USCT Charge on Peach Orchard Hill

USCT Painting

Travelers Rest

Travelers Rest

Belle Meade Plantation

Belle Meade Plantation

Battle of Franklin

Franklin

Nashville Naval Battle

Kelley’s Point Video

Nashville MIA’s

Copyright © 2022 · Bob Henderson. All rights reserved.