Remember the sounds of gospel music filling the air. New Bethel Baptist Church stands before us. It has a rich history deeply intertwined with Detroit’s civil rights movement.
New Bethel Baptist Church was founded in 1932. Its early years saw several pastors guide its flock. V. L. Bolton was first. Horatius “H.H.” Coleman, N. H. Armstrong, and William E. Ramsey followed. Then, in May 1946, C. L. Franklin became the pastor.
When Franklin arrived, the congregation numbered only 400. They gathered in a bowling alley. It was located at Willis and Hastings. By October 1951, the church had a new home. It cost 250,000 dollars. It had a seating capacity of 2,500. It was located at 4210 Hastings Street.
In the 1950s, New Bethel’s gospel choir gained fame. Weekly radio broadcasts spread their music. Franklin, music director Thomas Shelby, and his daughter Aretha Franklin were among the participants. James Cleveland served as organist. He was sometimes the conductor. In 1956, a young Aretha Franklin made her first recordings at New Bethel. She was only 14.
The construction of the Chrysler Freeway forced a change in 1961. The church lost its Hastings Street building. New Bethel moved to the Gold Coast Theater. It was located at 8210 Twelfth Street. It served as their home for two years. The congregation had grown to 4,000 members.
On March 10, 1963, New Bethel found a permanent home. It moved to the old Oriole Theater. The theater was at Linwood and Philadelphia Avenue. Detroit architect Nathan Johnson oversaw the renovations. The project cost over 500,000 dollars. The Detroit Free Press called the new structure a miniature Cobo Hall.
New Bethel became a hub during the 1960s civil rights movement. Franklin led the charge.
In May 1963, Franklin became chairman of the Detroit Council of Human Rights. He organized the Detroit Walk to Freedom. On June 23, 1963, 125,000 people marched. It was the largest civil rights demonstration. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at Cobo Hall. It was planned by Franklin and members of New Bethel.
In February 1965, New Bethel hosted a rally. It raised funds for Dr. King’s voter registration drive in Selma. Coretta Scott King delivered the keynote address. It was at the annual Women’s Day services in November 1965. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at the annual men’s day dinner in October 1966. James Meredith spoke at a rally in November 1966. It was five months after he was shot. It happened during his March Against Fear in Mississippi.
Tragedy struck on March 29, 1969. A shootout occurred between police and members of the Republic of New Africa. It was during a black separatist convention. A police officer died. Police raided New Bethel. They arrested 150 people. The police fired into the church. It caused extensive damage.
In May 1969, Franklin was arrested. Police claimed they found marijuana in his luggage. Franklin denied the charges. He wondered if it was related to the church shooting. The charge was dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Two gunshots were fired into New Bethel in January 1974. It happened during a service. Two attendees were injured.
In June 1979, Franklin was shot twice. Burglars attacked him at his home. He remained in a coma. He died on July 27, 1984. His funeral was at New Bethel. It was the largest in Detroit history. Jesse Jackson spoke.
In June 2016, Linwood Street was renamed Rev. Dr. C. L. Franklin Boulevard. It was a tribute.
New Bethel hosted many notable funerals. Dinah Washington, Nelson “Jack” Edwards, Florence Ballard, Philippé Wynne, C. L. Franklin, and David Ruffin were among those remembered here. Aretha Franklin married Glynn Turman here in April 1978. The Four Tops sang at the ceremony.
After Franklin’s shooting, the church struggled. In June 1982, Robert Smith Jr. became the new pastor. He remains the pastor today.
In 1987, Aretha Franklin recorded an album at New Bethel. It was titled One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.
New Bethel Baptist Church stands as a testament to faith. It is a beacon of hope. It played a vital role in the civil rights movement. Its legacy continues to inspire.