“Why would you break into a church?” Norine Crumpe asked. That is a question many have asked about Whitlock Memorial Church. This Detroit church has faced repeated break-ins.
Whitlock Memorial Church of God in Christ is at 6000 Epworth Street. It stands as a place of worship in Detroit. But its story includes unwelcome intrusions.
In February 2025, another break-in occurred. The alarm at Whitlock Memorial Church went off at 3:30 a.m. Someone threw concrete through the door. A brick shattered the snack counter.
Norine Crumpe voiced her distress. She noted that break-ins were happening at other houses of worship too. She wondered why someone would target a church. “There’s no money on the premises” she said. “We don’t keep any money here. Period.”
Pastor Keith Crumpe shared the struggle to maintain the building. “We’re just struggling to keep it nice” he said. “It’s hard when there’s always a setback.”
Whitlock Memorial Church had incidents twice late last year. The abandoned homes surrounding the church on Epworth may be to blame. Some believe drug activity occurs in those houses. This creates problems for the neighborhood. Children live in this area.
Norine Crumpe emphasized the need to tear down the abandoned house. “It needs to come down” she declared.
Chunks of concrete and bricks were easy to find near the church. These could have been used in the break-ins.
The pastors and parishioners contacted the city repeatedly. They wanted the eyesore torn down. FOX 2 also called the city. The abandoned house was not on the demolition list. The area was not yet eligible for federal demolition funds.
The city sent a crew to board up the home. They also boarded up others close to Whitlock Memorial Church. Crystal Perkins, a project manager with the City of Detroit, explained the effort. They wanted to tackle houses not in the demolition pipeline.
Meanwhile, the congregation at Whitlock Memorial hoped this helped. They wanted to live in a safe environment.
Whitlock Memorial Church has a history beyond these struggles. The church played a role in the Southwest Michigan Church of God in Christ. On January 14, 1991, the first meeting of pastors was held here. Superintendent Louis Hunter hosted the meeting. Dank Tyler served as acting chairman.
The pastors discussed establishing a fellowship. They received nominations for a leader. Tyler moved that Administrative Assistant Fred Lewis serve as the leader. The fellowship wanted to organize with the State of Michigan.
Whitlock Memorial Church was the site of important decisions. These decisions shaped the Church of God in Christ. It shows how Whitlock Memorial has been a place of community. It is more than just a building facing challenges.
Today, Whitlock Memorial Church stands as a testament to faith. It also shows resilience in the face of adversity. The congregation’s spirit remains unbroken. They are determined to maintain their place of worship. They want to serve their community.