Greater Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Faith Church, formerly known as Asbury Temple Methodist Church, is a historic church in Durham, North Carolina. The building originally housed a Methodist congregation but now houses a Holiness Pentecostal congregation.
| Greater Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Faith Church | |
|---|---|
 The church (then Asbury Temple UMC) in 2008 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Methodist Episcopal Church (formerly) United Methodist (formerly) Apostolic Faith Church |
| Leadership | Bishop Larry J. Copeland |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 201 S Alston Avenue Durham, North Carolina, United States |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Charles W. Carlton |
| Type | Neoclassical architecture |
| Completed | 1925 |
History
editThe Commonwealth Methodist Episcopal Church was established in the 1880s and later changed their name to Branson Methodist Church in 1904,[1] renaming the congregation in honor of William H. Branson,[2] the director of the Durham Cotton Manufacturing Company and the Pearl Cotton Mills.[3] The church later reorganized as Asbury Temple United Methodist Church.[3][4] It was built by the architect Charles W. Carlton.[1]
In 1957, the church's pastor Douglas E. Moore, organized the Royal Ice Cream sit-in to protest racial segregation in Durham.[5] In the 1970s, Gregory V. Palmer served as pastor at the church.
The Methodist congregation later left and the a Pentecostal congregation moved in to the building.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Asbury Temple United Methodist Church". North Carolina Architects & Builders. North Carolina State University. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- ^ "Final Rites Sunday For Mrs. Odell". The Herald-Sun. December 13, 1952. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- ^ a b "Commonwealth / Branson / Asbury Temple United Methodist | Open Durham". www.opendurham.org.
- ^ "Branson, William H." Open Durham. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- ^ "Durham Civil Rights Movement". Soul of America. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
- ^ "Greater Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Faith Church". USA Churches.