Idlewild Presbyterian Church facts for kids
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Idlewild Presbyterian Church
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| Location | 1750 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee |
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| Area | 2.2 acres (0.89 ha) |
| Built | 1926 |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Memphis MPSMemphis MPSMemphis MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000539 |
| Added to NRHP | July 7, 2009 |
Idlewild Presbyterian Church is a historic church located at 1750 Union Avenue in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee. It is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) group. This church has been an important part of the Memphis community for many years.
Church History
Idlewild Presbyterian Church started in 1891. Over the next few decades, it grew into a very important church in Memphis. The church moved into its current building in 1928.
A Welcoming Place
During the Civil Rights Movement, Idlewild was one of the few churches in Memphis that welcomed people of all races to worship together. This was a big step towards equality. After Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, Idlewild helped create the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA). This group helps about 50,000 people in West Tennessee every year.
Idlewild also made history by allowing women to become deacons in 1968. Deacons are church leaders who help serve the community. By 1974, the church even had a female associate minister. Today, three out of the four ministers at Idlewild are women.
In 2009, the church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Helping the Community Today
Idlewild continues its tradition of helping the community. It works with local schools and a project called "More Than a Meal." The church also partners with groups that work for social justice in Memphis. Idlewild is a welcoming place for everyone, including the LGBT community. The church blesses same-sex unions in its building.
Steve Montgomery was the pastor from 2000 to 2019. After a short time with pastor Anne Apple, David Powers became the new pastor in late 2020. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Idlewild helped families in need. It became a place where people could pick up food.
The Church Building
The current Idlewild church building was designed by George Awsumb. It is built in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks a bit like old European cathedrals. The building is similar to Rhodes College, which is a nearby private college also connected to the Presbyterian Church.
The church's bell tower was finished in 1999. The bells inside the tower are very heavy, weighing almost 27,000 pounds! Other buildings nearby have been designed to fit in with Idlewild's beautiful architecture. The church building is a key feature in the neighborhood.
See also
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- List of Presbyterian churches in the United States
- List of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) synods and presbyteries
- Memphis, Tennessee
