By Diana Chandler
Baptist Press
NASHVILLE — Union forces occupied First Baptist Church, Nashville, for more than two years during the Civil War, generally destroying the place as they threw church pews on the lawn and established a temporary hospital.
As historians tell it, pastor Robert Boyté Crawford (R.B.C.) Howell refused to pledge allegiance to the federal government and was thrown into prison at bayonet point for a two-month stay. Members who remained in Nashville worshiped where they could — including individual homes, a theater and a room above a grocery store.
The church, which originally opened its doors in 1820, survived the tumultuous period. In 2020, the historic church is marking its bicentennial amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Senior Pastor Frank Lewis is the 20th pastor of the downtown church, which is credited with the founding of both the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) and The Baptist newspaper (the forerunner to the Baptist and Reflector). [Read more…]