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House of worship, Greektown, since 1852

Second Baptist Church

Still standing, photographed 2015

Second Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1852
Style
Tudor Revival
Standing
174 years

Designed by Nathan Johnson and William E.N. Hunter

Second Baptist Church has stood on Monroe Ave. in Greektown since 1852, 174 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Second Baptist Church

Baptism at Northolt Park Baptist Church, Northolt, UK, 2015 Photo: brett jordan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The landmark St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Umdet, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing and open

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1852, decades before the auto age, when the river was the city's main street, Second Baptist Church opened in Greektown.

The design came from Nathan Johnson and William E.N. Hunter, in the Tudor Revival style.

It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

It is still open, and still part of daily life in the city.

Go see it at 441 Monroe Ave. Photos never get the scale right.

The Second Baptist Church, located at 441 Monroe Street within Greektown in Detroit, Michigan, is the oldest African-American church in the Midwestern United States. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1852 Built Designed by Nathan Johnson and William E.N. Hunter
  2. 1975 Listed on the National Register March 19, 1975
  3. 2026 Today 174 years and still standing

Where it is

441 Monroe Ave.

On this map

  1. Second Baptist Church This place
  2. Greektown Historic District 270 ft
  3. Ste. Claire Hotel 460 ft
  4. Randolph Street Commercial Buildings Historic District 460 ft
  5. Detroit Police Headquarters 470 ft
  6. Hollywood Casino at Greektown 520 ft
  7. Wayne County Morgue 0.1 mi
  8. Municipal Court Building 0.1 mi
  9. Globe Tobacco Building 0.1 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Architect

Nathan Johnson

Architect, 1925 to 2021. Designed Second Baptist Church (1852) and Stanley Hong's Mannia Cafe

Also by Nathan Johnson

Metropolitan United Methodist Church, by William E.N. Hunter Metropolitan United Methodist Church, by William E.N. Hunter. Photo: Andrew Jameson at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

William E.N. Hunter

Architect, 1868 to 1947. Designed Second Baptist Church (1852) and 7 more in Metro Detroit

Also by William E.N. Hunter

More from Detroit in the 1850s

Around the block

It is in Greektown. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. Second Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Baptism at Northolt Park Baptist Church, Northolt, UK, 2015 Photo: brett jordan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. The landmark St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Umdet, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.