Our History

Cofer’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church is rich in heritage and dates back to the late 1800’s. 
Thomas C. Cofer organized the church in 1880 in the home of William T. Trotter (it was an old Civil War barracks on a dirt road).  Thomas Cofer served as pastor until his death in 1885.  During this time, a building was erected at the corner of Buena Vista and Scott Street. The church was called North Nashville Free Will Baptist Church.

Later, the congregation changed its name to honor the founding pastor and thus the name became Cofer’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.  The church building burned down about ten years later and they rebuilt on Arthur Avenue (near what is now Garfield). The congregation then moved to the brick building on Tenth Ave in 1930. In 1962, the congregation agreed to build a new church building at the corner of Clarksville Highway and King’s Lane.  This building was dedicated in 1966.  In 1994, Cofer’s Chapel moved one last time to its present location on Franklin Pike.

Although there have been many pastors over the years and even various locations, Cofer’s Chapel FWB Church has remained steadfast in her teaching of Scripture and has been instrumental in denominational work with the National Association of Free Will Baptists for decades.

WHat We Believe

The Bible: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are our infallible rule of faith and practice.

God: There is one living and true God, revealed in nature as the Creator, Preserver, and Righteous governor of the universe; and in the Scriptures as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; yet as one God, infinitely wise and good, whom all intelligent creatures are supremely to love, adore and obey.

Christ: Christ is God manifest in the flesh; in His divine nature truly God, in His human nature truly man. The mediator between God and man, once crucified, He is now risen and glorified, and is our ever present Savior and Lord.

The Holy Spirit: The Scriptures assign to the Holy Spirit all the attributes of God.

The Government of God: God exercises a wide and benevolent providence over all beings and all things by maintaining the constitution and laws of nature. He also performs special acts, not otherwise provided for, as the highest welfare of men requires.

The Sinfulness of Man: Man was created innocent, but by disobedience fell into a state of sin and condemnation. His posterity, therefore, inherits a fallen nature of such tendencies that all who come to years of accountability, sin and become guilty before God.

The Works of Christ: The Son of God by His incarnation, life, sufferings, death, and resurrection effected for all a redemption from sin that is full and free, and is the ground of salvation by faith.

The Terms of Salvation: The conditions of salvation are: (1) Repentance of sin or sincere sorrow for sin and hearty renunciation of it. (2) Faith or the unreserved committal of one's self to Christ as Savior and Lord with purpose to love and obey Him in all things. In the exercise of saving faith, the soul is renewed by the Holy Spirit, freed from the dominion of sin, and becomes a child of God. (3) Continuance in faith and obedience unto death.

Election: God determined from the beginning to save all who should comply with the conditions of salvation. Hence by faith in Christ men become His elect.

Freedom of the Will: The human will is free and self-controlled, having power to yield to the influence of the truth and the Spirit, or to resist them and perish.

Salvation Free: God desires the salvation of all, the Gospel invites all, the Holy Spirit strives with all, and whosoever will may come and take of the water of life freely.

Perseverance: All believers in Christ, who through grace persevere in holiness to the end of life, have promise of eternal salvation.

Gospel Ordinances: BAPTISM, or the immersion of believers in water, and the LORD'S SUPPER, are ordinances to be perpetuated under the Gospel. FEET WASHING, an ordinance teaching humility, is of universal obligation, and is to be ministered to all true believers.

Tithing: God commanded tithes and offerings in the Old Testament: Jesus Christ endorsed it in the Gospel (Matt. 23:23), and the apostle Paul said, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him" (1 Cor. 16:2a).

The Christian Sabbath: The divine law requires that one day in seven be set apart from secular employments and amusements, for rest, worship, holy works, and activities, and for personal communion with God.