Tornadoes take toll on Nashville churches
Sumant Joshi, a local resident, volunteered to help clean up rubble at the East End United Methodist Church after it was heavily damaged by storms on March 3, in Nashville, Tennessee. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tornadoes that destroyed more than 140 buildings on March 3 in Middle Tennessee left their mark on a number of religious landmarks in Nashville.
Known as the “Protestant Vatican” and “the buckle of the Bible Belt,” the city has more than 700 churches and is home to Bible publishers, Christian universities, and denominational headquarters for groups including the Southern Baptist Convention, the National Association of Free Will Baptists, and the National Baptist Convention USA.
As the sun rose after overnight storms killed at least 24, religious communities joined home owners, businesses, and entertainment venues in picking up the pieces.
