In the late 1880’s The Rt. Rev. Joseph Rademacher, 4th Bishop of Nashville, decided there was need for a new parish in South Nashville.  It would be the fourth parish in Nashville, whose small Catholic community numbered 8,000.  In those days, many Catholic parishes served ethnic groups who tended to live together in close-knit communities (it was not until 1924 that geographic boundaries were set for the parishes in Nashville).  In the 1880’s the south side of Nashville was predominantly Irish.  For that reason, Bishop Rademacher felt the new parish should be dedicated to St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.

Original parish records show that 440 individuals, families, and companies pledged $12,045 toward construction of the new parish buildings – the church, rectory, and school.  Of this pledged amount, $10,135 was collected almost immediately, allowing building to commence at once.  Pledges were in amounts as little as .50 cents, and a few wealthy individuals pledged $100.  Several companies donated amounts from $200 to the highest pledge of $500.  Although the reason for the donation is unknown, Boston’s John L. Sullivan, then the reigning heavyweight boxing champion of the world, gave $25 towards construction of the new church.

The cornerstone was laid on July 13, 1890 and construction completed in less than seven months.  The church was dedicated with a Solemn Mass on February 8, 1891.  Despite the amounts pledged towards construction, parish debt remained at $10,500 which at the time was considered a substantial sum.  In an effort to reduce this parish debt, St. Patrick’s utilized a common practice for the time – pew rent.  Church records in 1894 note $902 in pew rent.

The church architectural design is known as Second Empire Style.  It is one of the few remaining buildings in the Nashville area reflecting this style.  The original Vanderbilt University gym (now the Fine Arts Building located at the corner of 23rd Street and West End Avenue) is the only other surviving building of this style.  As would have been necessary for the times, the church was lit by gaslight and heated by coal stoves.  The floor of the church was built with a slight downward slope to allow better viewing of the altar, a design feature found in few other churches in Tennessee of this era.

A school comprised of grades 1 through 8 was part of the parish from its outset.  This grade school was located on the second floor above the church, and was staffed by the Sisters of Mercy of St. Bernard Convent.  Due to the limited space available, the grade school never had a high enrollment of students.  The school closed in 1954 as several adjacent parishes opened newer and more modern facilities.  

Rt. Rev. Msgr. Timothy Abbott, the founding pastor of St. Patrick's Church, born 1855, was ordained to the priesthood in 1879 and assigned to mission and parish duties in Jackson, TN.  Father Abbott was tasked to open St. Patrick parish in 1889 and remained its pastor until his death in 1932.  This 43-year leadership and dedication to St. Patrick church, school, and the surrounding community is indeed an enduring legacy.

Time took its toll on the church buildings over the years.  Maintenance efforts were undertaken in the 1930’s and in 1948, but by the 1970’s there was were concerns about whether the physical structure could continue in use.  Fortunately, through the work of volunteers and professionals, with both donated and purchased items, a full restoration of the church was accomplished in 1978 under the vision of Rev. Fr. Frank Richards.  The interior walls of the church were sanded, patched, and repainted.  The floors were sanded and varnished.  The pews which had been painted white were stripped of their paint and returned to their natural finish.  The stained glass windows adorning the church were cleaned and protected from weather.  Rotted windows were replaced.  The baptismal font, which had been donated in 1911, was moved to the rear of the church.  The wrought iron fence at the front of the church grounds was not part of the restoration efforts and remains as it was at the time the church first opened.  

One unique aspect of the parish is its connection to the “Irish Travelers,” a group of Irish immigrants of the mid-1800’s who have not assimilated into the American population to the extent that other ethnic groups have done.  Instead, this group remains clannish and at one time lived an itinerant lifestyle.  Over the years, various families of Irish Travelers would appear in the Nashville area to hold a collective funeral for all those who had died since the last gathering.  Weddings and baptisms were performed, and the gathering was akin to a family reunion.  Times have changed and the Irish Travelers no longer roam the countryside by wagon, but they still return at times to St. Patrick and renew their connection to the parish.  The Irish Travelers have shown their appreciation for St. Patrick by donation of the statues of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the Infant of Prague in the church vestibule.

During the 11-year tenure of The Very Rev. David R. Perkin, V.G. as Pastor of St. Patrick's, extensive repair and maintenance efforts were undertaken to ensure the ongoing integrity of the parish facilities.  During the same time period, the Catholic Church in Middle Tennessee, the City of Nashville, and the surrounding neighborhood all experienced great growth and revitalization.  On July 1, 2018, The Very Rev. John J. H. Hammond, Adjutant Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of Nashville, began his tenure as the 23rd Pastor of St. Patrick's Church.