Church Street United Methodist

Completed in 1931, Church Street United Methodist is one of the most distinctive and recognizable buildings in Knoxville. BarberMcMurry, with design consultants John Russell Pope Architects of New York, designed the intricately-detailed church — which was the home congregation of BarberMcMurry founder Charles I. Barber. 

The building is designed in the neo-Gothic Revival style, constructed of honey-colored sandstone with a slate roof. The original sanctuary and church school wing are organized around a central arched courtyard. The massing, proportion and attention to detail int he design is carefully considered. BarberMcMurry was responsible for many of the building’s architectural details and interior design, as well as furnishings and lighting. 

Reportedly, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed through Knoxville on his way to dedicate the Great Smoky Mountains National park in 1940, he remarked, “That is the most beautiful church I have ever seen.” 

Since 1931, BarberMcMurry has designed additions and renovations to the church.

Completion Date: 1931

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

Recognition

• 2007 AIA East Tennessee - Top 15 Buildings of the Past 150 Years