This building stands at the church's third location. The original brick sanctuary stood on the east side of First Avenue facing Church Street. Land for it had been given in 1799 by Franklin founder Abram Maury. Pioneer Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury preached there in 1812. The church relocated in 1830 to the N.E. corner of Second and Church. That building was used as a hospital during the Battle of Franklin. Following the Civil War, the congregation of 238 purchased this triangular lot for $300. Construction began in 1869, with completion in 1871 and expansions in 1882, 1916, 1949, and 1955. The spire, destroyed in 1927, was replaced in 1995.

Built between 1823 and 1826, the Masonic Hall was hailed as an architectural marvel of its day. It was the first three-story building in Tennessee and, at the time of construction, the tallest structure west of the Allegheny Mountains. In 1973, it was named a National Historic Landmark. The only other property in Williamson County to receive such a designation is the Franklin Battlefield. Today, the hall is the oldest Gothic Revival structure in the state and Franklin’s oldest public building.

 

The Masonic Hall also played a vital role throughout the Civil War years. During the Federal occupation of Franklin, the building multitasked as a hospital, quartermaster offices, barracks, and a rallying ground for local Union sympathizers. Confederate spies used the hall’s roof to scout out and sketch Fort Granger, a nearby Union fortification. As mentioned before, the interior walls still bear graffiti left by these soldiers, featuring their names, regiments, and assorted messages. 

 

Ever since the hall’s construction, the Hiram Lodge No. 7 (a “lodge” refers to the members, not the meeting house) has maintained its presence there, making the building the oldest Masonic Hall in continuous use in Tennessee. Thanks to the efforts of the Masons, this 200-year-old structure remains part of Franklin’s historic landscape. However, time has taken its toll, and substantial repairs are now a pressing need. The Masons’ current priority is fixing the front facade, and they are seeking help from the community. The group hopes these renovations will allow them to open the hall to the public, facilitating education about its incredible history. 

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, the Mother Church of the Diocese of Tennessee, was completed in 1834, and stands today as the oldest Episcopal church in continual use west of the Appalachians. Rector James Hervey Otey oversaw not only the development of St. Paul's and the sanctuary, but was consecrated as Tennessee's first Episcopal bishop in 1834.