The Rev. Charles Gilchrist Adams, a towering figure as the pastor and then pastor emeritus of Detroit’s historic Hartford Memorial Baptist Church on the Detroit’s northwest side, where he earned the reputation of “a preacher’s preacher,” died Wednesday afternoon, his family said.
He died following a long bout with pneumonia and after cardiac arrest, said his sister, Edith Clifton, who said he was surrounded by his family. He was 86.
“He was my only sibling and my best friend,” said Clifton, 88. “We talked almost every day.”
Rev. Adams emerged on the scene of the religious community in 1962, when he became pastor of the historic Concord Baptist Church, one of the oldest Black churches in Boston, Massachusetts, according to relatives. From that pulpit, he went on to shape a religious following, was hailed internationally, spoke before the United Nations and met with U.S. presidents.
Back home in Detroit, he nurtured his flock and his community, his followers said.
In 1967, he became pastor of Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. The church would later move to 18700 James Couzens in the late ’70s, where he would grow the congregation from several hundred to nearly 10,000. In 2017, it was recognized by Michigan historical officials as the first church for African Americans on the city’s northwest side. It was described as a prestigious place where leaders have sought social justice and where mourners flocked to bid farewell to famous figures.
Thanks for reading from Ghsplash a news publishing website from Ghana. Share this article, For spelling mistakes and other related issues contact us
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLTSqaOaq5hjsLC5jp2pZpuYlr%2BtsdJmnqKkk52%2Fqr%2FTZpidmZ2oerCuyK2smqqpYrWivtOfpqucXaKyrrvRopilZZKWvbW10q1knKClp7CpedKepaKnomK9or%2FTqKlo