From a press release on the City of Chicago website, 3/30/07:

Mayor Richard M. Daley today applauded the Chicago City Council for passing an ordinance giving official landmark status to the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ building, the site of the 1955 visitation for Emmett Till.

For four days in September 1955, Roberts Temple, 4021 S. State St., was the center of the civil-rights movement. Till, a Chicago teenager, was lynched that August while visiting relatives in Mississippi. His murder and his mother’s decision on an open-casket funeral called national attention to the plight of African-Americans in shockingly graphic detail.

“The events that took place in this building showed the world the grave injustices and inhuman treatment to which African-Americans were subjected in the 1950’s and demonstrated the need for civil-rights legislation,” said Mayor Daley.

Built in 1922, it was the first church of its denomination to be established in Chicago and was considered the “Mother Church” in northern Illinois. [Editor’s Note: Before it was renamed Roberts Temple, the church was known as “Fortieth” because of its location at 40th and State Streets].

The original building was designed by Chicago architect Edward G. McClellan with simple ornamentation and red brick. By 1927, the building was expanded to include a large second-floor sanctuary.

In 1953, the church was renamed after its founder, Bishop William Roberts. In 1992, the building was refronted with tan brick and the sanctuary was remodeled.

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The Roberts Temple Landmark Celebration will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2007 with a reception at 2:00 p.m. and a service at 4:00 p.m.

Elder Mack C. Mason, author of Saints in the Land of Lincoln and Make Room for the Holy Ghost, will serve as Master of Ceremonies.

23 Comments

  1. Anonymous June 22, 2007 at 5:09 am - Reply

    my nameis Roseann Herte and I am Bishop Robert’s Great grandaughter, I currently attend Southern Illinois University and getting my Master’sin Workforce Education and Development, I would really like to expand on my great grandfather’schurch. If any body is intrested email me at Herte8@aol.com

    • Regina Doss-Rhymes June 5, 2018 at 7:19 pm - Reply

      Hi Roseann. My birth father was Isaiah Roberts, a huge preaching womanizer. All family members are Denying the existence of SEVERAL illegitimate children he fathered. Will you be doing so as well? Thanks. There are several books being written about this subject. The whole world will see the Roberts family skeletons. Shame.

  2. anthony March 5, 2010 at 7:15 pm - Reply

    My name is anthony cole and i am bishop Roberts Great grandson i recently just met this side of my family last summer at a picnic….

  3. Anonymous June 17, 2010 at 1:38 am - Reply

    My name is Modette Garrett i am Bishop Roberts GreatGreatGranddaugther i live in Las Vegas. My greatgrandmother was Sis Minnie Pearl “Mother” i like to get to know my family my email is modette4garrett@yahoo.com. I need to know if we still have the family reunion in july ?

  4. Jamena September 16, 2011 at 3:04 am - Reply

    Hi My name is Jamena Jones, My Grandfather is Bishop Isaiah Roberts. Im trying to find more information on him, as well as meet family members that I have not yet met. If anyone have any information on him, can you please contact me at JamenaPjones@aol.com
    Thank you!

  5. Bob Marovich September 16, 2011 at 3:06 pm - Reply

    Hi, Jamena — I have passed your information along to the family.

  6. Jamena September 16, 2011 at 3:21 pm - Reply

    Thank you Bob!

  7. Anonymous December 20, 2011 at 5:19 pm - Reply

    My name is Debbie Thomas Ilive in Tacoma Washington my grandmother was Minnie Pearl Thomas. Bishop Roberts was her brother.

  8. Bob Marovich December 20, 2011 at 8:02 pm - Reply

    Hi, Ms. Thomas – how cool! Thanks for commenting here.

  9. LdyT January 16, 2012 at 10:58 pm - Reply

    I know this is so late name is Trina I too am a great granddaughter of Bishop “Poppa” Roberts as I knew of him. I currently live in Mn and have been asked to write a memoir of my life my grandmother was Alberta and my life would be nothing without theirs. I would love to be in touch with more family ldyt4@hotmail.com

    • Nichole Bennett October 26, 2019 at 12:49 am - Reply

      My name is Nichole Bennett. Bishop Wm Roberts is my great-great-great grandfather. His daughter Alberta is mother to my great-grandma Etta. Etta is my grandma Loretta’s mother. My mother is Rhonda Bennett. I am so happy to have found this pg as I am researching my ancestry. Please contact me at locnrollhairstudio@yahoo.com…love you family!

  10. Jamena January 17, 2012 at 5:19 am - Reply

    Hey you can email me anytime you would like to @ Jamenapjones@aol.com

  11. Ed Malone March 9, 2014 at 6:43 pm - Reply

    Naming one’s church or denomination after its organizer or early pioneer is not a good idea. The Bible clearly states that we are to look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The Bible also says that there is no other foundation that can be laid other than that which is laid upon Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Naming one’s church “Lutheran” after Martin Luther, “Calvinist” after John Calvin, “Wesleyan” after John Wesley, “Hutterian” after Jakob Hutter, Mennonite after “Menno Simmons”, or even “Roberts Temple” after William Roberts demonstrates a disregard for these admonitions.

  12. Anonymous March 9, 2014 at 6:44 pm - Reply

    Naming one’s church or denomination after its organizer or early pioneer is not a good idea. The Bible clearly states that we are to look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The Bible also says that there is no other foundation that can be laid other than that which is laid upon Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Naming one’s church “Lutheran” after Martin Luther, “Calvinist” after John Calvin, “Wesleyan” after John Wesley, “Hutterian” after Jakob Hutter, Mennonite after “Menno Simmons”, or even “Roberts Temple” after William Roberts demonstrates a disregard for these admonitions.

  13. Kendale Nation February 12, 2017 at 9:19 pm - Reply

    Amen! Exactly one church, one body, one baptism! Nothing should be personalized, GOD OWNS IT ALL!

  14. Allegra Martin August 17, 2017 at 4:46 pm - Reply

    Hi All,

    My name is Allegra Martin>> My great grandfather is Isaiah Roberts and my Grandmother is Isaiah’s daughter > Ruth Roberts (Dabney). I attended my great grandfather’s church as a kid back in the 80’s.
    Please reach out if anyone gets this message. Thanks!

    allegramartin@yahoo.com

    • Bob Marovich August 17, 2017 at 5:46 pm - Reply

      I most certainly will!

    • Regina Doss-Rhymes April 29, 2018 at 4:29 pm - Reply

      Hi. My name us Regina Rhymes. I am registered with 23 and me. Accoring to them, I am a direct descendant of your Great Grandfather. I was adopted and have no information about my family ties. So curious! God bless!

    • Regina Doss-Rhymes May 2, 2018 at 2:47 pm - Reply

      I guess you won’t reply. Ok. Isaiah Roberts fathered a child with a woman in the congregation in 1963, my birth Mother, like it or not. I am not the only one. Peace, FAMILY!

    • Regina Doss-Rhymes June 5, 2018 at 7:09 pm - Reply

      Ruth is my half sister. Hey family! Lol

      • A Martin December 13, 2019 at 10:09 pm - Reply

        Oh wow, I haven’t been back on here in years and somehow it came up during a search. Sorry for no reply, it was not intentional. If you need to get in contact with me, I listed my email above.
        Good to know we got family out there somewhere.

  15. Allegra Martin December 8, 2017 at 5:21 pm - Reply

    Thank you!

  16. Regina Doss-Rhymes June 5, 2018 at 7:07 pm - Reply

    Family that denys family. I was better off adopted. Thanks for nothing. The BOOKS will tell all!!! They WILL expose ALL the Roberts’ Temple demons. Can’t wait until they start coming out, Ooohhh and then the movie!!!! Hot stuff! Lol
    Hey family, my sister Sharon, and my Cousin Allegra! We WILL meet someday!!! Peace!

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Written by : Bob Marovich

Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.