About Christ the King · Nashville, Tennessee
Christ the King Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in Nashville, Tennessee, located at 3001 Belmont Boulevard in the city's Belmont/Hillsboro/12th South neighborhood. Established in 1937 by Bishop William L. Adrian to serve the growing Catholic population of southwest Nashville, the parish today numbers roughly 1,589 registered families and is home to Christ the King School (PreK-8) and an extensive network of ministries. The parish offers daily and Sunday Masses in English, regular confession, Friday Eucharistic Adoration, an active RCIA/OCIA process, and ministries serving the homebound, bereaved, sick, and a twin parish in Haiti.
- Established
- 1937
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe)
- Rector
- Rev. John Raphael
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
Christ the King offers an unusually full Catholic life for a parish of its size: a Tudor-Gothic church with daily Mass, Friday Eucharolic Adoration, and an active confession schedule; a parish school (PreK–8) on the same campus; a year-round OCIA/RCIA process for those becoming Catholic; a Credo ministry for adults in their 20s and 30s; and outreach through a Haiti twin parish, St. Vincent de Paul-style service, grief and Elizabeth ministries, and Knights of Columbus. With roughly 1,589 families and a young, growing demographic in the Belmont/Hillsboro/12th South neighborhood, newcomers are welcomed through an online registration form, a parish app, and a prayer chain staffed by parishioners.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
- Wednesday: 4:45 PM – 5:45 PM (Marian Chapel confessionals)
- Saturday: 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
- Friday of the First Friday devotions (see bulletin)
Adoration times
- Friday: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Our Story — Christ the King Parish, 1937 to Today
Christ the King was born out of southwest Nashville's population boom in the late 1930s. The Diocese purchased the Belmont Boulevard property on May 10, 1937, and the parish was officially created July 6, 1937, with Father Joseph E. Leppert as founding pastor. The community has now been served by five pastors across 88 years and three successive church buildings, growing from a handful of families in a brick house to roughly 1,589 registered families today. The 75th anniversary in 2012 was marked by a commemorative book, "Reflections through Time," and the 85th anniversary in 2022 was celebrated with parish-wide events described in the Tennessee Register.
- Founded July 6, 1937, by Bishop William L. Adrian
- First Mass celebrated July 25, 1937, in the brick house chapel
- Original white-frame church completed September 1937
- Current church cornerstone laid August 15, 1956
- 75th anniversary commemorative book: "Reflections through Time"
- 85th anniversary celebrated 2022
The Design of Christ the King Church
The current church is a Latin-cross plan designed by John Harwood of Woolwine, Harwood and Clark and built by the Boone Construction Company. Its modified Tudor-Gothic style uses flat roof areas over the transepts to draw every sight line forward to the sanctuary. Local brick on the exterior matches the school and rectory; the interior walls are Indiana limestone. The most striking interior elements are the stained glass, the Italian mosaic Stations of the Cross, the terrazzo marble floor, and the Portoro-marble altars with their bronze crown-baldachino and De Prato-designed bronze candlesticks.
- Architect: John Harwood, Woolwine, Harwood and Clark
- Builder: Boone Construction Company
- Plan: Latin cross; modified Tudor Gothic
- Bell tower: 114 feet, 3,000-pound bell, three-manual Kilgen organ
- 10-foot figure of Christ over main entrance by Herbert Jogerst, Saint Meinrad's Abbey
Stained Glass and Furnishings
The stained glass program is a complete catechesis in light: two 16-foot sanctuary windows on the Apocalypse flank the altar; twenty-six 16-foot nave windows depict the life of Christ from the Annunciation to the Ascension; three 22-foot choir-loft windows portray the Holy Trinity; twelve small aisle windows symbolize the apostles; and ten 8-foot transept windows depict five kings and five queens who were also saints. Mosaic Stations of the Cross made in Venice, lit by indirect lighting in cut stone, line the nave. The terrazzo floor includes ten Old Testament prophetic symbols of Christ down the main aisle and the Lamb of God in the sanctuary.
Christ the King School (PreK–8)
Christ the King School is the parish's PreK-4 through Grade 8 Catholic school, located at 3105 Belmont Boulevard adjacent to the church. Its mission is to "serve God by educating students within the Catholic tradition of faith, academic excellence, love, and service." The school has been continuously enriched — most recently with a two-story addition by Gilbert McLaughlin Casella architects that includes a new auditorium, junior high wing, and recreation space linked to the existing classrooms. The school holds National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) affiliation.
- Grades PreK-4 through 8
- Located at 3105 Belmont Blvd
- Affiliated with NCEA and the Nashville-area independent schools network
- 2010–2011 two-story addition: new auditorium, junior high wing, recreation space
- Enrichment in art, music, Spanish, technology, library, and PE every grade
Faith Formation for All Ages
Faith formation is organized by life stage. The OCIA (formerly RCIA) process runs each year and prepares adults for baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist, with a published schedule of weekly topics and catechists (Jon Stotts, Jonathan McGee, Jim Bryan, Kelsi Ray, Stephen Camarata, Kate McGee). Adult Faith Formation meets Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM in the Parish Center West Wing or school library, with talks in theology, literature, Scripture, and church history. Children and Youth Formation, directed by Angie Bivens, runs the parish's religious-education program and sacramental prep.
- OCIA / RCIA (Jon Stotts, Director of Adult Formation)
- Adult Faith Formation Sundays 9:45–10:45 AM (Anna Stankovsky)
- Children and Youth Faith Formation (Angie Bivens)
- Annual retreat and Rite of Welcoming in late January
Outreach, Pastoral Care, and Community Life
Christ the King runs a deep network of pastoral-care and outreach ministries. Margaret Emsweller coordinates Pastoral Care, Ministry to the Sick, Grief Ministries, Funeral Liturgy, and the Prayer Chain. The Haiti Twin Parish is led by Marguerite Callahan and Tony Emmanuel. Peace Through Justice / St. Vincent de Paul work is led by Jim Bryan, and the Health Ministry by Dee Stoffer-Hausman. Family-life ministries include the Elizabeth Ministry (Erin Perry and Betsy Dalton), the Prayer Shawl Ministry (Ann Wagner), the Moms Group (Madeline DeLuca and Lindsay LeFevre), and the Tuesday Men's Group (Marty Heflin). Marriage Preparation is coordinated by Amy Meyer.
- Pastoral Care / Ministry to the Sick / Grief / Funeral Liturgy / Prayer Chain
- Haiti Twin Parish
- Knights of Columbus
- Health Ministry, Prayer Shawl, Elizabeth Ministry
- Moms Group, Men's Group, Marriage Prep
Liturgy and Music
Music at Christ the King is led by Russ Davis, Director of Music. The parish's three-manual Kilgen pipe organ, installed in the bell tower, anchors the principal liturgies, while Father Dexter Brewer's own violin playing became a familiar part of worship during his pastorship. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, sacristans, lectors, greeters, and ushers are all organized through the parish's lay-leadership network.
- Director of Music: Russ Davis
- Three-manual Kilgen pipe organ
- Lectors coordinated by Paz Haynes
- Extraordinary Ministers / Sacristans coordinated by Jim Bryan
Joining the Parish and Getting Involved
Newcomers are invited to register online through the parish website or to contact the office at 615-292-2884. Offertory envelopes can be requested by emailing [email protected], and electronic giving is handled through PushPay. Volunteer opportunities span ushering, greeting, hospitality (coffee and donuts), RCIA sponsorship, faith formation teaching, parish council leadership, and A/V or web help. The Credo ministry plans regular events for adults in their 20s and 30s throughout the spring and summer.
- Online registration form on ctk.org
- PushPay electronic giving
- Mobile app — choose Christ the King in zip code 37212
- Credo — ministry for 20s and 30s
Visiting the Parish Campus
The parish complex is centered at 3001 Belmont Boulevard, with the school at 3105 Belmont Boulevard, in Nashville's Belmont / Hillsboro / 12South neighborhood. The 2022-era renovation added an ADA-compliant front-entry staircase, and on-site parking surrounds the church and school. The parish office can be reached at (615) 292-2884 or [email protected].
- 3001 Belmont Blvd, Nashville, TN 37212
- Phone: (615) 292-2884
- Email: [email protected]
- ADA-compliant front entry completed 2022
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph E. Leppert1937–1953
First pastor; assigned by Bishop William L. Adrian; built the original frame church and oversaw the opening of the school in 1946.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas P. Duffy1953–1970
Second pastor; expanded the school, built the new rectory, and laid the cornerstone of the current church on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1956. Died in residence Feb. 6, 1970.
- Rev. Msgr. Daniel S. Richardson1970–1987
Third pastor; served 17 years; led the parish into its Fiftieth Anniversary celebration in 1987.
- Rev. James K. Mallett1987–2007
Fourth pastor; former Chancellor of the Diocese; led the 1997 capital campaign that built the Parish Center; served 20 years.
- Rev. Dexter Sutton Brewer2007–2025
Fifth pastor; previously 13 years at Good Shepherd, Decherd; a Chattanooga native with a law degree, Tribunal service, and a violin he shared with the parish; oversaw the new gym/school wing (2011) and 75th anniversary (2012).
- Rev. John Raphael2025–
Sixth pastor, effective June 30; previously a chaplain at Saint Thomas Health and 2019 Catholic Medical Association 'Chaplain of the Year.'