Memphis, TN

Collins Chapel CME Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1841 as the "Mother Church" of the Christian Methodist Episcopal denomination and on the National Register of Historic Places

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11a

ADDRESS: 678 Washington Ave  MAP

PHONE: 901-525-2872

WEBSITE: none

First Baptist Beale Street Church
DESCRIPTION: The congregation began in 1853 in the Beale Street residence of Rev Scott Keys before moving to the basement of a white church in 1863; in 1869, it moved to this structure, which is the first multi-story church constructed of bricks by and for African Americans; became the first African American Missionary Baptist Church in the US; Ida B. Wells published her newspaper here for a time; listed on the National Register of Historic Places

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11a

ADDRESS: 379 Beale Ave  MAP

PHONE: 901-522-9073

WEBSITE: none

Clayborn Temple AME Church
DESCRIPTION:Purchased from tje Second Presbyterian Church, by the 13th District of the AMe Church in 1949, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev Jim Lawson and many other Civil Rights leaders were guest speakers at this historic church which served as a prime launching station for civil rights rallies in the 1960s, it was the starting point for Dr. King's last march in Memphis andthe location of where the Sanitation Workers agreement was announced on April 16, 1968

SUNDAY WORSHIP: edifice being restored

ADDRESS: 294 Hernando Street  MAP

PHONE: TBD

WEBSITE: http://clayborntemple.org

Greater Imani Church
DESCRIPTION: Organized in 1989, Greater Imani is a God-chasing, trail blazing, Holy Ghost-led body of Bible believers, anchored in the truth of God's Holy Word. Organized November 1, 1989; this mega-church exudes a positive Afrocentric influence in its decor and congregation

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 9:30a

ADDRESS: 3034 Austin Peay Highway  MAP

PHONE: 901-274-6711

WEBSITE: http://www.greaterimani.org

Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1921, it is the First African-American congregation in the city of Memphis to belong to the brotherhood of Christian Churches and was first located at 974-978 Mississippi Boulevard; now it fast growing congregation is one of the largest churches in Memphis

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10a

ADDRESS: 70 North Bellevue Blvd  MAP

PHONE: 901-729-6222

WEBSITE: http://www.theblvd.org

Temple of Deliverance COGIC
DESCRIPTION: One of the two anchor COGIC churches in Memphis, the other being Mason Temple; founded by Biship Gilbert Earl Patterson (1939-2007) who also appeared on a national TV program

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11a

ADDRESS: 547 Mississippi Blvd  MAP

PHONE: 901-521-9160

WEBSITE: http://www.bbless.org

Mason Temple COGIC
DESCRIPTION: Officially opened in 1945, this edifice is International Headquarters for the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), who congregation is second only in size to the National Baptist Convention USA; Bishop C.H. Mason, founder of COGIC, is interred on church grounds; as the largest Black church in Memphis at the time, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to help organize a nonviolent protest on behalf of striking sanitation workers; on the eve of 3 April 1968 he delivered his last speech here known as "The Mountaintop" which had an ominous premonition of his death; many get their first visit to Memphis when attending the church's annual convocation, which has a huge economic impact on the city; 400 member Gospel choir is led by an award-winning musical director; listed on the National Register of Historic Places

SUNDAY WORSHIP: now ony the administrative office of COGIC

ADDRESS: 938 Mason Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-947-9300

WEBSITE: http://www.cogic.com

Full Gospel Tabernacle
DESCRIPTION: Famous for its former soul singer, now pastor Al Green; confirm that he's preaching before you stop by

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11:30a

ADDRESS: 787 Hale Road  MAP

PHONE: 901-396-9192

WEBSITE: http://www.algreenmusic.com/fullgospeltabernacle.html

New Salem Missionary Baptist Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1928 by Rev. and Mrs. Bridgewater, Phillip Hubbard, Julia Smith-Ransom and others, it seems this has been a growing, independent Baptist church ever since; the new church edifice opened in 1984

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10:30a & 7:30p

ADDRESS: 2231 South Parkway East  MAP

PHONE: 901-452-7265

WEBSITE: http://newsalembaptist.com

Temple Church of God in Christ
DESCRIPTION: Bishop G.E. Patterson co-pastored this historic church before a rift in the church hierarchy led him to found Temple of Deliverance COGIC

SUNDAY WORSHIP:

ADDRESS: 672 South Lauderdale Street  MAP

PHONE: 901-774-1572

WEBSITE: Link

Second Congregational Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1868, it is the oldest unaltered church in Memphis designed and built by black artisans for a black congregation; the church is also associated with LeMoyne-Owen College

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11a

ADDRESS: 764 Walker Ave  MAP

PHONE: 901-946-9493

WEBSITE: none

Centenary United Methodist Church
DESCRIPTION: Played a prominent role in the Civil Rights Movement when Rev Jim Lawson was pastor; Lawson, since relocated to a church in Los Angeles, was a colleague of Dr King and fellow practitioner of non-violent protest for positive social change; the church is now called Asbury AME

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10:15a

ADDRESS: 583 East McLemore  MAP

PHONE: 901-774-7604

WEBSITE: http://www.centenarymemphis.com