New Friendly Missionary Baptist Church

Did you ever hear of a church named after a street? New Friendly Missionary Baptist Church wasn’t. But it sits on C. L. Franklin Boulevard, once Linwood Street. This street was renamed to honor the church’s most famous pastor. Reverend C. L. Franklin, Aretha Franklin’s father, led New Friendly Missionary Baptist Church from 1946 to 1979. His leadership transformed the church into a powerhouse. It became a central hub for the Civil Rights movement in Detroit. Before arriving at this location, New Friendly’s congregation had a nomadic existence. They started in a bowling alley in 1946. Then they built a beautiful new church on Hastings Street in 1951. However, just a decade later, that building was lost due to freeway construction. The congregation then worshipped at the Gold Coast Theater for two years. Finally, in 1963, they found their somewhat permanent home in the former Oriole Theater building. This move, from the Gold Coast Theater to the renovated Oriole, was more than just a relocation for the New Friendly Missionary Baptist Church. It was a symbolic journey. Reverend Franklin himself described it as a “trip from the valley to the mountain.” This new building, at the corner of Linwood and Philadelphia, represented a significant achievement. It was Detroit’s first major construction project entirely led and financed by the African-American community. The 1960s marked an era of intense activity at New Friendly Missionary Baptist Church. It hosted numerous pivotal events during the Civil Rights movement. The Detroit Walk to Freedom, one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in U.S. history up to that point, was planned here. The church also hosted rallies and speeches by prominent figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, and James Meredith. Sadly, the church also witnessed violence. In 1969, a police raid following a black separatist convention resulted in a shootout and the death of a police officer. The church building suffered extensive damage. Even after the raid, the church continued to be a target. In 1974, two gunshots were fired into the church during a service, injuring two attendees. These events at New Friendly Missionary Baptist Church showcase not only the struggles but also the strength and resilience of a community fighting for equality and justice.