Allie Fleming and family; Saint Clare Collective building

KNOXVILLE - A historic chapel in Bearden has been restored and in a full circle moment bringing the space closer to its original purpose, is reopening as a faith-based gift store: Saint Clare Collective.

Founded by Allie Fleming, Saint Clare Collective is intended to serve as a beautiful place where faith and everyday life come together, offering meaningful gifts, books, home pieces, art, and more.

Located at 5902 Kingston Pike, next to Pelican’s SnoBalls, the chapel has served multiple purposes over the years, while still housing a gravesite in its backyard. Most recently, the building was used as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio. Along with her husband Jimmy, their four children and many other family members and friends, Fleming renovated the historic chapel, repurposing original church pews, bookshelves, and more to bring the sacred space back to life.

While intended in part to fill a void left by the 2024 permanent closing of The Paraclete Catholic book and gift store after its 37 years in Knoxville, Saint Clare Collective will take a somewhat modern, expanded approach to its offering.

“Saint Clare of Assisi is a special inspiration to me personally, and the journey to establish Saint Clare Collective is rooted in my Catholic faith and our family’s participation in the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Sacred Heart Cathedral School,” Fleming said. “The store will carry items that both I and other Catholics have looked for locally, without success; many other Christian and generally spiritual products; and also completely secular, nonreligious merchandise. We are proud of both our faith-based offerings and universal products, and we welcome people of all and any faiths and none whatsoever who may want to browse our diverse selection.”

The store will carry a wide range of products from spiritual to secular and devotional to whimsical.

Religious products include:
• Books, including Bibles and devotionals
• Crosses and crucifixes
• Medals, pendants and rosaries
• Icons, statues, art, holy cards and other symbols depicting Christ, Mary and the saints
• Nativities, Advent wreaths and devotional candles
• Gifts, keepsakes and clothing to celebrate sacraments and milestones such as baptism, First Communion and matrimony

General inventory includes:
• Home décor
• Women’s clothes and jewelry
• UT Vols and other sports-themed items
• Seasonal and holiday items such as ornaments
• Novelty and entertaining items, including Mahjong sets and accessories
• Children’s toys
• Custom, handmade, and small-batch pieces by both local makers and out-of-town artists
• Lantern & Lily section: one-of-a-kind found treasures and vintage pieces, thrifted from throughout East Tennessee

“Saint Clare Collective is less about what is in our inventory and more about why it was selected – to bring joy, comfort, peace, inspiration and beauty to your home, your family, your life and to those with whom you share these gifts,” Fleming said. “It’s truly a curated collection, chosen with thoughtfulness and intention. Whether you’re marking a sacramental milestone such as a baptism or wedding, looking for a birthday or hostess or holiday gift, adding something meaningful to your home or celebrating the season, I hope you will find something to be cherished at Saint Clare Collective.”

While the closing of The Paraclete initially appeared to be part of a national trend as dedicated Catholic book and gift stores faced increasing competition from online sales, Fleming believes the pendulum has swung back to valuing in-store retail experiences.

“I didn’t want to buy another generic item from a website, unsure of the exact color or material or the quality at all, especially when selecting gifts and keepsakes intended to commemorate some of the most special moments in our lives,” Fleming said. “Knoxville lovingly celebrates its artists and makers and small businesses, and I am eager for Saint Clare Collective to provide the kind of meaningful and worthy pieces customers hope to find when they choose to shop local.”

Noticing repairs underway, multiple community members have stopped by in the past few months to express their relief and excitement to see that the building is being preserved. Among the visitors were several individuals with long-standing family ties to the chapel, including a woman whose daughter was baptized there and members of Friends of Cavett Station.

Friends of Cavett Station is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to preserve and maintain Mars Hill Cemetery at Historic Cavett Station in Knoxville. In addition to providing perpetual care for the cemetery, the group also endeavors to provide opportunities for historical events, including heritage, historical, and educational programs about the cemetery and Cavett Station site. Members volunteered their time and efforts during the early stages of preserving the Bearden Christian Church site.

“For many years, this chapel was a place where congregants gathered and built community,” said Terry Faulkner, Friends of Cavett Station board member. “Friends of Cavett Station was thrilled to hear how Allie and her family were honoring the chapel’s past, preserving many of its lovely and meaningful details and creating a space, even as a retail store, that also is intended to uplift, inspire, connect, and support the community. Too many historic buildings and traditions are torn down and erased. Saint Clare Collective is a lovely next chapter in the legacy of this historic Bearden chapel.”

The store’s grand opening celebration will be held on All Saints Day on Sunday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. In addition to shopping and browsing product lines, attendees will enjoy coffee and beignets from Café Lomez food truck. Overflow parking is available across the street at the Bearden Shopping Center where Food City is located, and guests should use the crosswalk at the intersection of Bearden Road and Kingston Pike.

Regular store hours will be announced soon. For more information, visit Saint Clare Collective on Facebook and Instagram at @SaintClareCollective.