Tennessee Town Churches
Almost since its inception in 1879, Tennessee Town has been characterized by the presence of churches. After the initial Exodusters from Tennessee arrived and settled in Topeka, a conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church decided to help the settlers. The First Congregational Church also assisted, including underwriting the construction of the Tennessee Town Congregational Church with the understanding that it would be a relief center as well as a church.
By the first decade of the 1900s, four more churches had sank roots in Tennessee Town: Shiloh Baptist (still at 1201 SW Buchanan St.), Mt. Olive Episcopal (now Asbury-Mt. Olive United Methodist Church, at 1196 SW Buchanan St.), The Church of God (now Lane Chapel, at 1200 SW Lane St.), and the Christian Church (now Dovetail, at 1196 SW Washburn St.).
Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, at 1162 SW Lincoln, and The First Church of the Nazarene, at 1001 SW Buchanan, came later to provide five churches in the 16 square blocks that are Tennessee Town. Those five churches now count members within and without Tennessee Town.
As has been the custom in historically black neighborhoods, the church also has been involved in community affairs. Asbury-Mt. Olive UMC accessed tax credits to finance the construction of the Asbury-Mt. Olive Apartments, in the second 1100 block of SW Buchanan St. Faith Temple COGIC acquired vacant lots on the northwest corner of SW Lincoln and Munson Sts. to construct a basketball court and playground for area youths. Those efforts and others by the neighborhood's churches have helped to serve an increasingly diverse neighborhood population. The NIA's churches will need to be involved to continue to develop the neighborhood in 2014 and beyond.
By the first decade of the 1900s, four more churches had sank roots in Tennessee Town: Shiloh Baptist (still at 1201 SW Buchanan St.), Mt. Olive Episcopal (now Asbury-Mt. Olive United Methodist Church, at 1196 SW Buchanan St.), The Church of God (now Lane Chapel, at 1200 SW Lane St.), and the Christian Church (now Dovetail, at 1196 SW Washburn St.).
Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, at 1162 SW Lincoln, and The First Church of the Nazarene, at 1001 SW Buchanan, came later to provide five churches in the 16 square blocks that are Tennessee Town. Those five churches now count members within and without Tennessee Town.
As has been the custom in historically black neighborhoods, the church also has been involved in community affairs. Asbury-Mt. Olive UMC accessed tax credits to finance the construction of the Asbury-Mt. Olive Apartments, in the second 1100 block of SW Buchanan St. Faith Temple COGIC acquired vacant lots on the northwest corner of SW Lincoln and Munson Sts. to construct a basketball court and playground for area youths. Those efforts and others by the neighborhood's churches have helped to serve an increasingly diverse neighborhood population. The NIA's churches will need to be involved to continue to develop the neighborhood in 2014 and beyond.
Tennessee Town Churches in Pictures
Asbury-Mt. Olive United Methodist Church, at 1196 SW Buchanan St.
The First Church of the Nazarene, at 1001 SW Buchanan St.
Shiloh Baptist Church, at 1201 SW Buchanan St.
Lane Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, at 1200 SW Lane St.
Have a question or comment? Contact the Tennessee Town NIA at [email protected].
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Churches page last updated on April 1, 2017