One year after a fire destroyed a church in the Inglewood community, churchgoers held a prayer service to remember the anniversary.
Eastminster Presbyterian Church members stood at the site Sunday afternoon located on Gallatin Road.
"It was a year ago yesterday, [December] 11, that the fire started, and we were determined to have a remembrance ceremony," Elder Connie Hamblen told NewsChannel 5.
About 25 people braved the cold weather to pray and share memories about what the church meant to them.
"My daughter was married here, and I've been through many changes," said Donna Ramsey.
Ramsey started attending the church with her family in 1967.
"We moved down here from Nebraska in '67. We didn’t have any family or anything here, so this became our family," she said.
During the ceremony, others shared memories of their marriages, feeding others, and having yard sales in the parking lot.
The church was demolished this month and plans to rebuild on the same site have not been determined.
"We have found it very difficult to move forward -- making decisions, starting new programs, etc. -- when we drive by and see the burned skeleton of our beloved church building. We feel like we take a step backwards instead of forwards every time we see it," Hamblen said.
Many said they're hopeful for the future.
"The church as we have said is not a building, it's everybody here," Hamblen said.
Current members worship at Woodland Presbyterian in East Nashville.
The cause of the fire continued to be investigated by the Nashville Fire Department.
