East Nashville's historic Tulip Street Methodist church being sold

• Last fall, Tulip Street United Methodist Church closed its doors amid a sharp decline in attendance.
• The property that's listed on the National Register as contributing to the Edgefield Historic District.
• Jones plans to renovate the education wing into office and meeting and space.
• Separately, 61st Avenue United Methodist Church in The Nations will close its doors in June.

The Tulip Street United Methodist Church property in East Nashville is under contract for $1.8 million to a local developer who plans to preserve the 125-year-old structure. 

Upon closing the deal, Charles Jones said the property that's listed on the National Register of Historic Places as contributing to the Edgefield Historic District would be used as a venue for hosting weddings, music and other events. Nondenominational church Nashville Vineyard will continue to hold its Sunday services in the sanctuary.

Last fall, Tulip Street United Methodist Church closed its doors amid a sharp decline in attendance. The .70-acre property includes the main sanctuary at 522 Russell St. and an education wing, which Jones plans to renovate into office and meeting and space.

"The sanctuary is a beautiful place for organ concerts and other types of music — it has an 1890 organ," he said, adding the dining center in there will be used for hosting events. "The stained glass in the sanctuary is some of the most beautiful in Nashville." 

The pending sale of the Tulip Street United Methodist Church property comes after event venue Ruby owner Dan Cook paid $1.2 million for the former home of West Nashville United Methodist Church, which will become an event venue and restaurant.

61st Avenue United Methodist Church closing its doors next month

Separately, 61st Avenue United Methodist Church in West Nashville's The Nations neighborhood is expected to close its doors in June with many remaining members expected to join Glencliff United Methodist Church in south Nashville.

"As congregations become less active and lose their ability to financially support their ministry and their facility, then they enter into the process of determining if they need to close," said Amy Hurd, the spokeswoman for the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Southeast Venture broker John Cavin is handling listing of the Tulip Street United Methodist Church property, which overall includes roughly 28,000 square feet space.

Established in 1859, Tulip Street United Methodist was one of the only two remaining churches after the Great East Nashville Fire ravaged that area's Edgefield community in 1916. More recently, the April 1998 tornado demolished the east wall of the sanctuary, but left the rest of that building's interior unscathed. "In the darkness, shortly after the storm, “Amazing Grace” echoed from the bells in Tulip Street’s tower, offering comfort and hope to the devastated community," according to its website.

  Reach Getahn Ward at gward@tennessean.com or 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @getahn.