History of City Church
Chattanooga, TN 

In the spring of 1961, a young pastor, Reverend Kenneth Harvell, and his wife felt a call from God to plant a new church in the Tyner area of Hamilton County. After several months of praying and working, a small church was born with ten charter members. The new congregation, which was called the Tyner Church of God, met in the old Tyner United Methodist Church building at the corner of Hickory Valley Road and Tyner Road.

In 1962, the church relocated to 7122 Lee Highway, occupying about one acre of property given to them by the Church of God. The first permanent sanctuary was built and the church’s name was changed to Lee Highway Church of God.

Over the next 14 years, five pastors would serve the congregation. Mike and Trudy Chapman would become the church’s sixth pastor on September 12, 1976. In 1976, the church had 56 members and was worshipping in the facility built by Pastor Harvell in 1962.

The church has seen steady growth both numerically and in influence in the city. The congregation now has over 1000 members. The original one acre of property is now a nineteen-acre campus with six major buildings for worship, education, fellowship, and generational ministries.

From a single pastor in 1976, the church is now served by a multiple staff of pastors, ministry directors, and support personnel. The church supports missionaries and ministries in over thirty nations and has sent out a number of pastors, missionaries, and Christian workers.

In September 2000, the congregation made a historic decision to change its name from Lee Highway Church of God to City Church of Chattanooga. This strategic decision reflects the vision of the church for the 21st Century – to be a life-giving church, reaching the city of Chattanooga and touching the world.

City Church of Chattanooga moves boldly into the future. Our expectation and confidence is that God, who has been faithful in our past, will be faithful in our future.