06/18/2026
Counting Down: FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
On my first day as Executive Director of Community School of the Arts, I accidentally locked myself out of the building and into the courtyard — an inevitable conclusion to the fact that I wanted to explore every inch of the available space at First Presbyterian Church Knoxville, TN. Back in 1992, the elevator hit five floors, from the lower parking garage to the 3rd floor where CSA offices, the Sanctuary, and the Chapel were all located. But there were spiral staircases and separate wings and nooks and crannies that took years to reveal themselves, and for 25 years we utilized every inch of space we could find.
On the lower level, the main Art Room was shared with the church’s FISH program, and it and Jesus’ Friends were the only rooms that had direct access to the parking lot. Piano lessons took place in 6 different rooms on 3 different floors. The violin and guitar studio was on the 3rd floor next to our two staff offices, but lessons also took place downstairs and in the Chapel. Children’s Choir, drama, voice class, and string ensemble met in the James Park Room, legendary for its bilious green carpet (we say that with love because for a few years that same carpet adorned our offices). Dance and creative movement took over the gym twice a week. Culinary Arts in the kitchen. Trumpet and percussion ensemble on the 4th floor in what was called the Purple Room, which was, we thought, the furthest you could get from the rest of humanity. Turns out there was also a 5th floor, and that’s where we established the Senior Studio/Printmaking Room, a.k.a. “the happiest place on earth.”
Carol Z Shane (a.k.a. Ms. C’url) had her own studio in the “piano wing” underneath the Chapel because she generously lent the School her very expensive electric piano as her teaching instrument. The studio became her second home in as much as she was Principal Keyboardist for the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, and was running back and forth between the School and the Tennessee Theatre nonstop.
Spring Recitals were held in the acoustically-perfect Chapel, and twice a year, students performed in the glorious Sanctuary for the Holiday Concert in December and the end-of-year Awards Banquet. The energy in that sacred space was unmatched. One of our alumni petitioned to wed in the Sanctuary because her home church wasn’t large enough to hold her guest list, and she considered First Presbyterian Church a second home. It was a beautiful wedding. They jumped the broom.
It was inevitable, of course, that renovation had to come to First Presbyterian Church. Parts of the building were ancient and inaccessible, the layout was unwieldy, and repairs were becoming increasingly more costly. But for 25 wonderful years, the Community School of the Arts was privileged and blessed beyond measure to call it home. And to me, it will always will be.
Thank you, our dearly departed Carswell Hughs. Thank you, John Bell. Thank you, First Presbyterian Church.
Support the School: An anonymous donor has generously pledged a $50,000 matching grant through June 30. Every dollar matched. https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/give2csaknox
