A small group of people came together on February 2, 1980, to discuss ways to be an effective and meaningful witness for Christ in the Knoxville community. This group met at 1945 Dandridge Avenue, and after much prayer and discussion, decided that a church should be formed.

The group, increased in number, came together again with Reverend Harold A. Middlebrook, Sr. at the Prince Hall Village Center, 2048 Dandridge Avenue, on Saturday, February 9, 1980, and chose the name Canaan Baptist Church of Christ, Inc. Deacons chosen to serve: Ernest Mynatt, Jr., John Jordan, Sr., Kenneth Robinson, Jr., Aaron Webb, Woodrow Harris, LeRoy Penson, and James Stephens. Later, Cohen Willis was added. Interim church officers elected were: Jacquin Westfield, Secretary/Clerk; Marie Webb, Assistant Secretary/Clerk; Ross Jones, Sr., Treasurer; Thomas Clark, Financial Secretary; and Lillian Coleman, Coordinator of Music. Addie Sharp and Blanche Cowan were chosen as Mothers of the Church.

On Sunday, April 6, 1980, Canaan held its first worship service at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, 124 S. Cruze Street, with Reverend Harold Middlebrook, preaching “JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING.”

In December of 1980, the Canaan Baptist Housing Corporation was formed to explore the construction of housing for the elderly and handicapped. Canaan purchased 27.75 acres of land on Beaman Lake Road to erect a tabernacle and housing for the elderly and handicapped. 

On September 26, 1982, ground-breaking ceremonies were held for Golden Age Retirement Village. The late John J. Duncan, Sr., Congressman from the Second District of Tennessee, was the principal speaker. 

On Sunday, January 9, 1983, Canaan held its first worship service at 3917 McCalla Avenue.

On April 10, 1983, ground-breaking ceremonies were held for Phase I, the Fellowship Hall, on the church owned property on Beaman Lake Road. 

On Sunday, August 21, 1983, the Canaan family journeyed by foot or car from 3917 McCalla Avenue to Canaan’s new home at 1117 Beaman Lake Road. 

In October 1983, formal ribbon cutting ceremonies were held to mark the official opening of  Golden Age Retirement Village.

On April 7, 1985, Reverend Kenneth Calvert was ordained, and became the first Associate Pastor at Canaan. 

On March 22, 1989, Canaan Health Care Corporation received a “Certificate of Need” from the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission, to permit the construction of a 100-bed skilled and intermediate care nursing home. 

In May 1995, formal ribbon cutting ceremonies were held for  Holston Health Care Center, originally called Canaan Health Care Center. This facility, a State-of-the-Art center, serves as another phase of Canaan’s mission to the total community.

Reverend Harold Middlebrook retired as senior pastor of Canaan on December 29, 2013.

In July 2014, the pulpit search committee recommended that Associate Pastor A. Gene Thomas, Jr. become the interim Pastor while the search for a permanent pastor continued. On October 12th Reverend Thomas was elected to become the second senior pastor in Canaan’s history. He acted as senior pastor until March of 2023.

On March 28, 2023,  Pastor Emeritus Middlebrook was asked to serve as Interim Pastor, until a new pastor was selected. 

On Saturday, January 6, 2024, the members voted to elevate Reverend Middlebrook to “Senior Pastor” for the second time in the church’s history.

The membership is currently excited and working, diligently, toward the construction of a new Sanctuary.

The Canaan Baptist Housing Corporation is working toward the development of an eighty-five-apartment complex – Golden Age Retirement II.