In conjunction with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s performance of Carlos Simon’s Good News Mass, Sanctuaries of Praise presents a digital journey through many of the sacred spaces of Black Los Angeles. These historic churches have been bastions of faith, activism, and musical creativity.
From the late 19th-century through the Great Migration (1910–1970), when six million African Americans moved from the rural South to urban centers such as Los Angeles, these places of worship played a pivotal role in the growth of gospel music. They blended spiritual traditions with the improvisational brilliance of jazz, blues, and soul, shaping the genre as we know it today.
Historic Black Churches Map and Location Guide
The Azusa Street Revival (founded 1906)
Located at 312 Azusa Street and led by William J. Seymour, the Azusa Street Revival ignited the modern Pentecostal movement, breaking racial and denominational barriers with a worship style rooted in ecstatic praise and spirit-filled musical expression.
Azusa Street Revival 1906-Pentecostal History
First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church (founded 1872)
Established in the home of Biddy Mason, a formerly enslaved woman who secured her freedom and became one of Los Angeles’ most influential landowners and philanthropists, FAME stands as the city’s oldest Black church. It has been a spiritual, cultural, and activist hub for generations, with a choir that continues its legacy of musical excellence.
"Somewhere Far Away" F.A.M.E. Freedom Choir
Second Baptist Church (founded 1885)
As the oldest Black Baptist congregation in Los Angeles, Second Baptist was a center for civil rights activism, hosting W.E.B. Du Bois and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Its choir helped shape the city’s gospel tradition, elevating the form through disciplined choral arrangements and stirring performances.
Grant African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church (founded 1906)
Grant AME has served the South Los Angeles community for over a century as a pillar of faith and justice. Its choir has been essential in shaping the city’s gospel landscape, carrying forward the AME tradition of sacred music fused with social consciousness.
St. Paul Baptist Church (founded 1907)
A vital institution in Los Angeles’ gospel history, St. Paul Baptist became an incubator for gospel artists and composers such as the Echoes of Eden Choir, “Mother of Gospel” Sallie Martin, and her daughter, gospel singer Cora Martin-Moore, fostering a legacy of musical innovation and community engagement.
People’s Independent Church of Christ (founded 1910)
Originally established as a nondenominational space for Black worshippers, People’s Independent Church grew into a spiritual and musical stronghold. Its choir has long been recognized for its dynamic harmonies and commitment to preserving the gospel’s rich traditions.
Holman United Methodist Church (founded mid-20th century)
Emerging as a powerhouse of faith and social justice, Holman UMC played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. Its choir, known for blending traditional spirituals with contemporary gospel arrangements, has remained influential in Los Angeles’ sacred music scene.
Excerpts from The Jubilant Voices 20th Anniversary Concert
Mount Moriah Baptist Church (founded early 20th century)
Renowned for its electrifying worship and commitment to community outreach, Mount Moriah Baptist has nurtured generations of gospel artists, ensuring the city's endurance of Black sacred music.
The Blood Would Never Lose it’s Power | Crystal Tate at Mount Moriah Baptist Church
Victory Baptist Church (founded 1943)
A cornerstone of Los Angeles’ gospel legacy, Victory Baptist was among the first Black churches to broadcast services on television, making its Voices of Victory Choir a nationally recognized ensemble. While the church was tragically lost to arson in 2022, its congregation, which continues to meet today, remains a testament to the enduring power of faith and song.
The Victory Baptist Church of Los Angeles Documentary
New Temple Missionary Baptist Church (founded mid-20th century)
A sacred landmark in gospel history, New Temple gained international prominence when Aretha Franklin recorded her groundbreaking 1972 live album Amazing Grace within its sanctuary. Featuring accompaniment by James Cleveland, the album remains one of the best-selling gospel records of all time, capturing the raw spirit of the Los Angeles scene.
Aretha Franklin, "Amazing Grace" Live at New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1972
Greater Grace Memorial Church of God in Christ (founded 1964)
Home to Reverend James Cleveland’s legendary Southern California Community Choir, Greater Grace Memorial helped shape modern gospel’s choral sound. Cleveland’s pioneering approach—blending gospel with jazz and soul—laid the groundwork for contemporary gospel’s evolution.
"A Good Day," James Cleveland And The Southern California Community Choir
Opportunity Baptist Church (founded 1946)
Although smaller than many other churches on this list, Opportunity Baptist contributed to the city’s gospel landscape through figures like composer Eugene Douglas Smallwood, who played a key role in developing Los Angeles’ gospel sound.
In summary, the historic churches of Los Angeles are more than merely places for worship; they are vibrant emblems of the city’s Black heritage, cultural transformation, and musical excellence.
From the heartfelt hymns of the Great Migration to the stirring harmonies of contemporary gospel, these sacred spaces continue to inspire, uplift, and preserve the legacy of African American spiritual expression. They also lay the groundwork for numerous other congregations that are fostering similar musical innovations today. We invite you to share your favorite historic or contemporary church, choir, and congregation with LA Phil Insight at insight@laphil.com.
Tyree Boyd-Pates is a Los Angeles-based museum curator, historian, author, and social entrepreneur dedicated to preserving and amplifying African American art, history, and culture. As the founder and CEO of NOMMO Cultural Strategies, he consults, curates, and develops cultural projects and public programming that engage communities of color while reimagining how Black history is presented and experienced.
Sources:
1. Gospel Roots: African American Churches in Los Angeles, Alliance for Networking Visual Culture.
2. Jacqueline Cogdell Djedje, Los Angeles Composers of African American Gospel Music: The First Generations, American Music, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Winter, 1993), pp. 412-457.
LA Phil Insight is generously supported by Linda and David Shaheen.