Storefront church
Encyclopedia
A storefront church is a church housed in a storefront building. Many African American
Christians used to hold their worship services in such churches in the early years of the African American Christian
experience in post-slavery
America. Many African American congregations at that time did not have the financial foundation to build great cathedral
s or even small sanctuaries. These building were usually rented out or sold to the small congregations. They were called storefronts because they were buildings that were once small stores that went out of business. The inside of the building was converted by putting in chairs and a make-shift pulpit
. The storefront church also served as a hub for many poor African Americans to see leadership in an all black arena. Many storefronts emerged in the urban centers of the north and were filled with poor former slaves leaving the harsh memories of their former lives behind. Storefront churches were a center of social development and free speech for many poor African Americans to express their feelings about the struggles and hardship
s they faced everyday in their lives. They also provided a focus point for community unity and engagement
.
Storefronts are still very much a part of the African American Christian experience today; furthermore, the storefront church has also emerged within other cultures: “Storefront churches today are not just black and urban. Many have recently been established in Latino- and Asian-dominated neighborhoods, as well as poorer rural communities, typically serving similar functions as the storefront churches in historically black communities.”(http://www.pbs.org).
Storefront churches may still be found throughout the United States
, among white and Latino
neighborhoods as well as African American ones.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
Christians used to hold their worship services in such churches in the early years of the African American Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
experience in post-slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
America. Many African American congregations at that time did not have the financial foundation to build great cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
s or even small sanctuaries. These building were usually rented out or sold to the small congregations. They were called storefronts because they were buildings that were once small stores that went out of business. The inside of the building was converted by putting in chairs and a make-shift pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
. The storefront church also served as a hub for many poor African Americans to see leadership in an all black arena. Many storefronts emerged in the urban centers of the north and were filled with poor former slaves leaving the harsh memories of their former lives behind. Storefront churches were a center of social development and free speech for many poor African Americans to express their feelings about the struggles and hardship
Hardship
A hardship may mean:*hardship clause in contract law*undue hardship in employment law and other areas*extreme hardship in immigration law*hardship post in a foreign service*hardship in life...
s they faced everyday in their lives. They also provided a focus point for community unity and engagement
Community engagement
Community engagement refers to the process by which community benefit organizations and individuals build ongoing, permanent relationships for the purpose of applying a collective vision for the benefit of a community...
.
Storefronts are still very much a part of the African American Christian experience today; furthermore, the storefront church has also emerged within other cultures: “Storefront churches today are not just black and urban. Many have recently been established in Latino- and Asian-dominated neighborhoods, as well as poorer rural communities, typically serving similar functions as the storefront churches in historically black communities.”(http://www.pbs.org).
Storefront churches may still be found throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, among white and Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
neighborhoods as well as African American ones.