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The Temple City Council approved the designation of the African American Churches Historic District at the City Council meeting on Thursday, May 19. The district, located in East Temple, is bound by E. Ave. A to the north, the Union Pacific Railroad to the east, E. Ave. E to the south and S. MLK Jr. Dr. to the west. Eighth Street Baptist Church, Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, Wayman Chapel A.M.E, 311 S. MLK Jr. Dr. and 515 E. Ave. D are landmarks within the district boundary. Since Fall 2021, City staff have worked with pastors of East Temple’s historically African American churches, local organizations with predominately African American membership, East Temple residents and city stakeholders to better understand the historical and cultural significance of the landmarks, and to develop the district proposal. The three churches and 515 E. Ave. D, which is currently occupied by the Wheatley Alternative Education Center, are still operational. Corinth Missionary Baptist Church branched from the Temple Chapel Baptist Church, which was organized around 1881 as one of the area’s earliest African American congregations. The Eighth Street Baptist Church, formerly named the Saint Love All Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church, was founded soon after Temple was established as a railroad town in 1882. The early mission of the church was to serve African American railroad workers. In 1905, the church moved to the current location and adopted the present congregational name. Wayman Chapel A.M.E was founded by a missionary elder of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) church in 1883. 311 S. MLK Jr. Dr. is the last building standing in the 300 block of S. MLK Jr. Dr., which is an area that was once occupied by a variety of Black-owned businesses. 515 E. Ave. D has been utilized by a variety of tenants, and City staff are still in the process of researching the building’s history. The City of Temple, in partnership with the Springer Archives, will continue researching East Temple’s history, as leadership and staff may consider a boundary expansion and additional landmark designations in the future.
The Temple City Council approved the designation of the African American Churches Historic District at the City Council meeting on Thursday, May 19.
The district, located in East Temple, is bound by E. Ave. A to the north, the Union Pacific Railroad to the east, E. Ave. E to the south and S. MLK Jr. Dr. to the west. Eighth Street Baptist Church, Corinth Missionary Baptist Church, Wayman Chapel A.M.E, 311 S. MLK Jr. Dr. and 515 E. Ave. D are landmarks within the district boundary.
Since Fall 2021, City staff have worked with pastors of East Temple’s historically African American churches, local organizations with predominately African American membership, East Temple residents and city stakeholders to better understand the historical and cultural significance of the landmarks, and to develop the district proposal.
The three churches and 515 E. Ave. D, which is currently occupied by the Wheatley Alternative Education Center, are still operational.
Corinth Missionary Baptist Church branched from the Temple Chapel Baptist Church, which was organized around 1881 as one of the area’s earliest African American congregations.
The Eighth Street Baptist Church, formerly named the Saint Love All Baptist Church and the First Baptist Church, was founded soon after Temple was established as a railroad town in 1882. The early mission of the church was to serve African American railroad workers. In 1905, the church moved to the current location and adopted the present congregational name.
Wayman Chapel A.M.E was founded by a missionary elder of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) church in 1883.
311 S. MLK Jr. Dr. is the last building standing in the 300 block of S. MLK Jr. Dr., which is an area that was once occupied by a variety of Black-owned businesses.
515 E. Ave. D has been utilized by a variety of tenants, and City staff are still in the process of researching the building’s history.