“Black Jesus Church”

Claudia Mair Burney, writes of her search for a spiritual home and how an Episcopal Church, and the artwork it had on the side of the building has drawn her in.

“Every city has its mythology. Inkster is no exception. Said Anglican church is called St. Clements Episcopal Church (see piccha above). I’ve never been to a service there, but I’m going to venture to say that it’s probably predominately African American (Inkster is very segregated. We just don’t mix it up like all that). Now, I could be wrong about St. Clements members, and if I am I’ll gladly report back. So think of this African American Episcopal church in the heart of Inkster. And the mythology attached to it? Weeeeeeell, all my life people who don’t go to St. Clements Episcopal church has called it, Black Jesus Church.”

[snip]

I don’t know why, but in the materials I collected today, and from a peek at the online history they give of the church on their website, nobody mentions that big, honkin’ black Jesus.

Nuthin’!

Not how long he’s hung there. Was he there from the very beginnings of the budding parish? A gift that came later? I dunno. And why can’t you see Him on the church’s piccha!? No photo of Him in the parish photos on the website, either.

Maybe it’s taken for granted that everybody in Inkster knows he’s there. Maybe they’re a little salty that people call their parish Black Jesus church, totally dissin’ its patron saint. While there is a drawing of him on a flier, I could get no satisfaction finding any history of him.

Still. You gotta love something that homey and delightful. I plan to attend Holy Eucharist on Sunday morning. Maybe someone will tell me about him then.

Read the rest the story and see the pictures here.

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