A vibrant blue choir robe fluttered gently in the breeze. It hung ghostlike from a window of the Isaiah New Testament Way Missionary Baptist Church. This building on Orleans Street in Detroit has a rich and layered history. It wasn’t always a Baptist church. Long before the Isaiah New Testament Way Missionary Baptist Church occupied it the building had a different name. In fact it had several different names and different congregations over the years.
The story begins much earlier. In 1914 it was organized as St John the Baptist Rumanian Church. Romanian immigrants formed this Greco-Catholic church. The building itself was erected the following year in 1915. They celebrated their 25th anniversary in 1940 with a high mass and a banquet. This shows the vitality of this early community.
Then things changed. In 1944 the Romanian congregation moved. The building became the St Ruth Holy Science Temple of Antioch. Dr H Lewis Johnson a Black woman founded this church. It was part of the Antioch Association of Metaphysical Science. It practiced a unique blend of faiths. The church incorporated aspects of Catholicism Eastern Orthodoxy and Baptist traditions. It even featured faith healing and speaking in tongues. This eclectic mix attracted a diverse congregation. This demonstrates the church’s adaptability and openness.
Services were lively. Congregants clapped swayed and sang gospel music. They also genuflected and were anointed with oil. A piano accompanied the pipe organ creating a vibrant atmosphere. The building itself housed original features like colored glass panes and a ceiling fresco. These elements survived multiple renovations and changes in religious practices. These details show the lasting impact of earlier congregations.
The Isaiah New Testament Way Missionary Baptist Church took over sometime in the 1980s. It continued using the building until the early 2010s. Reverend Leon R Riggs was its pastor. Today the church is abandoned. Yet the building’s history continues to resonate. The wrought-iron fence with crucifixes on each post remains. This speaks to the enduring spirit of faith and community that shaped this place. It’s a tangible reminder of the countless stories this building has silently witnessed. The Isaiah New Testament Way Missionary Baptist Church is more than just bricks and mortar. It’s a living testament to Detroit’s ever-evolving religious landscape. The building itself is a silent observer of the changing times.