ermitage Presbyterian Church had its beginning in a small, one-room log school house on the Lebanon Turnpike, a short distance east of the present church. As often as possible, Reverend Andrew Hodge would visit and the community, led by Rachel Jackson, would gather in the cabin to hear the Word of God preached. In 1819 the building burned leaving the community without a school or a place to worship. In deference to his wife Rachel's strong Christian values, and the increasing community need for a place of worship, Andrew Jackson donated land for a church in 1823. Not one to delegate to committees, he personally supervised and participated in the construction of the church, incorporating the efforts of family, local residents, and slaves owned by the Jacksons. The brick building was fifty feet long and thirty feet wide, with a brick floor and two fireplaces to keep the congregation warm. The church, originally known as "Ephesus Church," had an interdenominational congregation. Rachel immediately became a communing member. Andrew feared that his opponents would see such a move on his part as politically-motivated, and promised Rachel that he would join as soon as he was "out of politics." The Church flourished until Rachel's death in 1828. About 1832, the church was affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, the leading denomination in Tennessee at the time.

When Jackson returned from Washington in 1837, the languishing Church was revived and used again regularly. It was reoriented to face Lebanon Pike, with some original doors being bricked-over, and new windows cut. One fireplace was covered, and a stove added to compensate for the lost heating capacity. In recognition of Jackson's contributions, the congregation moved to change the name to "Hermitage Church." Jackson fulfilled his promise to his late wife Rachel by joining the Church in 1838. The Church immediately elected him a ruling elder, but he declined. He thought that his tenure was too short to accept such an office, as he considered it "a far higher honor than any I have ever received." Jackson was a devout man, relying often on prayer, and was always present in the same pew after becoming a member. That pew is now marked with a silver plate. In August 1845, just a few months after Jackson's death, there was quite a revival with twelve new members united, four of whom were "women of color" previously belonging to the Jacksons. Services were regularly conducted at the Hermitage Church, except during the Civil War when there were almost no services.

Fire struck the Church again in 1965, leaving just the walls of the building standing. The building has now been restored to its 1839 appearance, and may be visited on the Tulip Grove portion of The Hermitage. In September 1965, the Hermitage Church acquired its present site in an exchange of land with the Ladies' Hermitage Association. The Hermitage Presbyterian Church congregation regularly holds Easter Sunrise and other special services at the old Hermitage Church. Ground was broken in March 1967 for the present Sanctuary by C. Lawrence Winn, a great-great grandson of Andrew Jackson and Elder in our church. The congregation of the new church, Hermitage Presbyterian Church, held their first service in the new building in December 1968. We continue the commitment of the congregation to the tradition of education and spiritual development to the Hermitage community.

Excerpts of history taken from articles by C. Lawrence Winn; W. E. (Putt) Hunt, an Old Hickory resident, teacher and Elder of this church; and on line sources provided by The Hermitage and "Preservation of the Hermitage" articles by Mary Dorris, a member of the Ladies Hermitage Association.