Pilgrim Baptist Church, Birthplace of Gospel Music, Burns

[Alex F]

Pilgrim Baptist Church, on Chicago's south side, was destroyed by a fire that broke out at about 4:00PM. The church was close to completing a $2.0 plus million renovation.

Pilgrim was built as a synagogue in the early 1890s and was designed by noted architechts Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan. As the area became mostly African-American in the early 1920s, it was sold and became the Pilgrim Baptist Church. There, music director Thomas Dorsey, often called the father of gospel, directed the choir and wrote songs including "Precious Lord." This was the home church of Mahalia Jackson and many other gospel stars.

The loss of this architectural and cultural masterpiece is a great blow for Chicagoans and all those who value the contribution of gospel music. Fortunately, no one was hurt and spirit of the music created and performed there lives on.