Charitable organizations donate 1.5 million dollars to rebuild a historically significant Black church in Memphis, extensively damaged by fire.
Memphis, TN — Generous contributions of $1.5 million from various foundations will aid in the reconstruction of the historically significant Clayborn Temple, a Black church in Memphis that holds deep roots in the civil rights movement. The church, originally known as the Second Presbyterian Church, was built in 1892 but was later sold to an African Methodist Episcopal congregation in 1949, adopting its current name.
The Romanesque revival church had been undergoing a comprehensive restoration project worth $25 million before a fire on April 28, 2021, caused extensive damage, leaving parts of the facade intact but almost devastating the entire interior. The restoration project aimed to revitalize the neighborhood by hosting a museum, cultural programming, and community outreach activities, as well as restoring a massive 3,000-pipe grand organ.
However, the setback has not deterred Anasa Troutman, executive director of Historic Clayborn Temple, from moving forward with the restoration. Troutman announced the donations received from the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, Mellon, and Ford foundations on Wednesday.
Located near the iconic Beale Street, Clayborn Temple has played crucial roles in significant historical events, including serving as the headquarters for a sanitation workers' strike in 1968, attracting the attention of civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who was tragically assassinated in Memphis.
While specific individual donors are not publicly disclosed, several institutional and community organizations such as The Big We, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund have pledged their support in preserving this essential landmark of civil rights history. The Clayborn Temple Capital Campaign, another supporter, also invites public donations and involvement through clayborn.org. Moreover, local Black artists are partnered with through the CLTV collective to accurately portray the temple's rich cultural and historical significance.
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