Mason Temple

Mason Temple, in Memphis, Tennessee, is a Christian international sanctuary and central headquarters of the Church of God in Christ, the largest African American Pentecostal group in the world. The building was named for Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, founder of the Church of God in Christ, who is entombed in a marble crypt inside the Temple.

Not to be confused with Masonic Temple.
Mason Temple, Church of God in Christ Memphis, Tennessee

History

The Temple was dedicated in 1945, to replace the original "Tabernacle" which burned down in 1936.[1] The seating capacity is 3,732. The Mason Temple was the largest church building owned by a predominantly black Christian denomination in the United States at its opening.

Historic marker outside Mason Temple

It was the location of Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous last speech: "I've Been to the Mountaintop", on April 3, 1968; King was assassinated the next day. A plaque on an exterior wall near the entrance details the event. [2]

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References
  1. Marilyn J. Chiat, Marilyn Joyce Segal Chiat, America's Religious Architecture: Sacred Places for Every Community, John Wiley & Sons, USA, 1997, p. 235
  2. Thomas, Evan (2007-11-19). "The Worst Week of 1968, Page 2". Newsweek. Retrieved 2008-08-27.


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