4844 McClellan Avenue
McClellan Avenue Apostolic Faith Assembly of God, Tennessee Missionary Baptist Church, Henderson Temple Church of God in Christ, Refuge Temple Church
I’m not certain when this structure was built; however, I’d guess it was in the 1920s. In the 1915 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, the structure didn’t exist yet. The neighborhood was very underdeveloped; however, within a decade, the area would be bustling with families, businesses, and churches.
By 1931, this structure was home to the McClellan Avenue Apostolic Faith Assembly of God. That year, Mrs. Amelia Wegner, 59, “dropped dead at midnight while attending service in the church.” The cause of death was listed as heart disease.
On October 8, 1939, Robert Brown, a 13-year-old neighborhood kid, volunteered to use a ladder to climb the church roof to get a stuck football after it landed on top. In the process, he fell off the roof, fracturing his spine. His condition at Receiving Hospital was listed as serious.
The 1951 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map showed a much fuller neighborhood and the structure still standing. It was still listed as the Assembly of God, though it’s not clear if it was the same congregation.
Pastor Harry Nelson (Born Harry Napoleon) was born on November 12, 1922, in Haywood County, Tennessee. He left home at 17 and landed in Detroit, finding work at the Budd Wheel Company in 1943. He married Betty Currie Napoleon in 1951, and the couple would have five children, including Benny Napoleon, Detroit’s Police Chief from 1998 until 2001 and the Wayne County Sheriff from 2009 until his death on December 17, 2020, due to complications from the Coronavirus.
Pastor Harry Nelson was called to preach in 1954, two years after joining St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church. He formed a mission that would eventually become the Tennessee Missionary Baptist Church, which initially met at Harry and Betty’s home at 4792 Seyburn Street (nonextant) before occupying a storefront at 3317 Gratiot Avenue (nonextant). In 1956, Dr. R.W. Wright of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church ordained Pastor Harry Nelson and the Tennessee Missionary Baptist Church was officially born.
In 1960, Pastor Harry Nelson moved the Tennessee Missionary Baptist Church to 4844 McClellan Avenue, pictured here. This was the congregation’s first church building. The congregation moved to a newly constructed church building at 2100 Fischer Street (at Kercheval) in 1973. Nelson was the pastor for 45 years and was well-regarded in Detroit and nationwide. He died on August 28, 2009, at 10 PM at Henry Ford Hospital and was buried at Elmwood Cemetery. In 2024, Tennessee Missionary Baptist Church still occupies the structure at Fischer and Kercheval.
Most of the information about Pastor Harry Nelson and his church was taken from his obituary. This is an excellent example of how writing an informative death notice can be a positive tool for future generations to research the history of people and places!
In 1973, Pastor R. S. Henderson incorporated Henderson Temple Church of God in Christ at 2682 Gratiot Avenue. By 1973, the congregation had moved to 4844 McClellan, pictured here. In 1992, the congregation’s pastor was Virgil Thomas. In 1988, the church became Henderson Memorial Church of God in Christ and Miracle Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in 2003. The congregation will meet at 20210 Schoenherr in 2024. I’m unsure when this church left their McClellan location.
In 2005, Waverly B. Bumbrey incorporated Refuge Temple Church, INC. at this church. By 2021, that entity had dissolved on a state level. That said, the church was likely reincorporated under a different name, as it still operates as the Refuge Temple Cathedral of His Glory Church of God in Christ at 12227 Findlay Avenue.
Last week, I saw some people cleaning up the church and the surrounding property. It appeared to be a few guys cleaning things up, not an official crew or anything. Refuge Temple is still listed as the owner; however, records show they may have unpaid taxes as of October 2024.
Hopefully, another congregation can take up the torch and reopen this church, or another business or private citizen can figure out an adaptive reuse of this unique structure. The neighborhood surrounding it is healthy and growing.
As of the first week of November, new wood has been added to this structure, and it has been better secured.
