About St. Patrick · Nashville, Tennessee
St. Patrick Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in South Nashville, Tennessee, founded in 1890 and dedicated to St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, in recognition of the largely Irish community that settled the south side of the city in the 1880s. The parish is part of the Diocese of Nashville and today worships in a rare surviving example of Second Empire architecture, listed on GCatholic's register of historic Catholic churches. Guided since 2018 by the Very Rev. John J. H. Hammond, Vicar General and Judicial Vicar of the diocese, the parish is known for its warm 'Worship + Faith + Service' identity, its devotion to the Eucharist and adoration, and a remarkable historical bond with the Irish Travelers, who have been returning to the church for sacraments since 1892.
- Established
- 1890
- Patron
- St. Patrick (patron saint of Ireland)
- Rector
- Very Rev. John J. H. Hammond, V.G. (23rd pastor, since July 1, 2018; also Vicar General and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Nashville)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Nashville
Why belong here
St. Patrick offers a small, historic parish with a deeply Eucharistic devotional life — daily Mass, a robust confession schedule before every Mass, and time for adoration — all in one of Nashville's rare Second Empire churches. The parish has real character: it is the spiritual home of Nashville's Irish Travelers and retains the legacy of its founding pastor, Msgr. Timothy C. Abbott, in the newly dedicated Father Abbott Hall above the church. The current pastor, Father John Hammond, leads a community actively investing in its facilities (a new elevator, restored upstairs space) and in reaching out, with members joining processions and pilgrimage events with neighboring parishes. If you are looking for an intimate, tradition-rich Catholic home in South Nashville — close to downtown, the Cathedral of the Incarnation, and several other parishes — St. Patrick is worth a visit.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:50 AM
- Monday: 6:15 AM – 6:50 AM
- Tuesday: 6:15 AM – 6:50 AM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 11:35 AM
- Thursday: 6:15 AM – 6:50 AM
- Friday: 6:15 AM – 6:50 AM
- Saturday: 6:15 AM – 6:50 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM
Adoration times
- Adoration has been held in connection with parish events (e.g., during the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage stop on June 28, 2024); regular weekly adoration times are not published on the parish website.
Our History
St. Patrick's is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in Nashville, established in 1890 to serve the largely Irish Catholic community of South Nashville. The church was built in less than seven months, dedicated on February 8, 1891, and has been in continuous use since, with a full restoration in 1978. The parish's story is inseparable from two threads: its founding pastor Msgr. Timothy C. Abbott, who led it for 43 years, and the Irish Travelers, who have been returning to the parish for sacraments since 1892. In 2018 the Very Rev. John J. H. Hammond, V.G. became the 23rd pastor and has continued the work of preservation and renewal, including the Legacy Campaign projects.
- Cornerstone laid July 13, 1890; church dedicated February 8, 1891
- Founded by Bishop Joseph Rademacher, 4th Bishop of Nashville
- Founding pastor Msgr. Timothy C. Abbott served 1889–1932
- School (grades 1–8) on the second floor, run by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Bernard Convent, closed 1954
- Full church restoration in 1978
- 23rd pastor, Fr. John J. H. Hammond, V.G., began July 1, 2018
- 22nd pastor: Very Rev. David R. Perkin, V.G. (10-year tenure)
The Building and Architecture
St. Patrick's is a rare surviving example of Second Empire style architecture, one of only two such buildings still standing in the Nashville area (the other being the original Vanderbilt University gym, now the Fine Arts Building at 23rd and West End). As was common for its era, the church was originally lit by gaslight and heated by coal stoves, and the nave floor was built with a subtle downward slope for better viewing of the altar — a design feature rare in Tennessee churches of the period. The wrought iron fence at the front of the property is original to 1891 and was not part of the 1978 restoration. Stained glass windows adorn the interior, and a baptismal font donated in 1911 now stands at the rear of the church after the 1978 restoration.
- Second Empire style
- Original gas lighting and coal stoves
- Slightly sloped nave floor for better altar sightlines
- Stained glass windows cleaned and protected in 1978 restoration
- Original 1891 wrought iron fence preserved at front of property
- Listed on GCatholic's Historic Catholic Churches in USA registry
The Irish Travelers Connection
One of the most distinctive features of St. Patrick is its long bond with the Irish Travelers, a group of mid-19th-century Irish immigrants who never fully assimilated into American life and historically maintained a nomadic, clannish way of life. Beginning on the first Monday in May 1892, the parish became the site of an annual burial pilgrimage: families would return for collective funerals, weddings, and baptisms in a gathering that functioned almost as a family reunion. Six of the original families continued the practice into the 1960s, and even today the Irish Travelers return to St. Patrick for sacraments. Their appreciation is memorialized in two statues they donated to the vestibule — Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the Infant of Prague.
- Annual burial pilgrimage began first Monday in May 1892
- Six Irish Traveler families continued the practice into the 1960s
- Parish still hosts Irish Traveler weddings, baptisms, and funerals today
- Statues of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the Infant of Prague donated by the Travelers
The School and Father Abbott Hall
From the start, a school for grades 1 through 8 was part of St. Patrick, located on the second floor above the church and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Bernard Convent. Limited space kept enrollment modest, and the school closed in 1954 as neighboring parishes built newer facilities. The upstairs space then had a long second life as a shelter for homeless families from 1984 until the early 2000s, after which it sat largely unused because a large three-story staircase made it inaccessible. The diocese's Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign enabled the installation of the John G. Burns Memorial Elevator in the south narthex, and the space has now been rededicated: the main room honors Mary Catherine Strobel for her service to those in need (the 'Strobel Room'), and the larger former-school area has been blessed as Father Abbott Hall, in honor of the founding pastor.
- Grades 1–8 school on second floor, taught by Sisters of Mercy of St. Bernard Convent
- School closed 1954
- Upstairs space used as homeless family shelter 1984–early 2000s
- John G. Burns Memorial Elevator installed via Legacy Campaign
- Strobel Room dedicated to Mary Catherine Strobel
- Father Abbott Hall blessed in honor of Msgr. Timothy C. Abbott
Weddings and Marriage Preparation
St. Patrick provides an elegant and functional sacred space for the celebration of weddings. Parishioners wishing to marry should contact the pastor as soon as possible to begin the necessary marriage preparation. Under certain circumstances, non-parishioners can also arrange to be married at St. Patrick; the parish's wedding policies and procedures are published on its weddings page.
- Contact pastor to begin marriage preparation
- Non-parishioners may marry at St. Patrick under certain circumstances
- Parish wedding policies and procedures published online
Faith Formation and Sacraments
The parish coordinates with the Diocese of Nashville's Office of Faith Formation to provide RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), catechesis, and preparation for the sacraments. The parish homepage links to FORMED.org and Word on Fire for ongoing digital faith formation, and parishioners are encouraged to subscribe to the parish email list for ongoing formation and event notices.
- RCIA for adult initiation
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation preparation
- Marriage preparation (see Weddings)
- Anointing of the Sick available through the parish office
- FORMED.org subscription linked from parish site
- Word on Fire digital content linked from parish site
Parish Life and Outreach
Beyond its regular worship schedule, St. Patrick has been active in diocesan and ecumenical events. In June 2024 the parish welcomed the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on its Juan Diego Route, hosting the perpetual pilgrims for adoration, a meatless meal, and a Q&A after a 4.6-mile procession from the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Mother House with stops at the Church of the Assumption and St. Mary of the Seven Sorrows. The parish participates in the diocesan Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign and gives through OSV Hub online giving.
- Hosted National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (June 28, 2024) with procession, adoration, and Q&A
- Parish share of Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign funded the elevator and Father Abbott Hall
- Online giving via OSV Hub
- Parish email list for ongoing communication
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by the Very Rev. John J. H. Hammond, V.G., who has served as the 23rd pastor of St. Patrick since July 1, 2018, and who also serves as Vicar General and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Nashville. Deacon Shawn Phillips was assigned to St. Patrick effective May 1, 2023; he is a college chemistry professor and lives with his wife Pam and their three sons Joshua, Jacob, and Joseph. The parish office can be reached at [email protected].
- Pastor: Very Rev. John J. H. Hammond, V.G. (since 2018)
- Deacon: Shawn Phillips (since May 1, 2023)
- Office email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Timothy C. Abbott1889–1932 (43 years)
Founding pastor; born 1855, ordained 1879, served in Jackson, TN before being tasked to open St. Patrick. Led the parish for 43 years until his death in 1932. Father Abbott Hall, the restored upstairs school space, is named in his honor.
- Very Rev. David R. Perkin, V.G.10-year tenure ending before 2018
22nd pastor; oversaw extensive repair and maintenance to ensure the ongoing integrity of the parish facilities during a period of growth in the diocese, the city, and the surrounding neighborhood.
- Very Rev. John J. H. Hammond, V.G.2018–present
23rd pastor; also Vicar General and Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Nashville. Led the parish's participation in the Legacy of Faith, Hope and Love Campaign, resulting in the John G. Burns Memorial Elevator, Father Abbott Hall, and other restorations.