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House of worship, Wildemere Park, since 1925

Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church

Still standing, photographed 2019

Shrine of the Black Madonna, 2019 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1925
Style
Colonial
Standing
101 years

Designed by George D. Mason

Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church has stood on Linwood St. in Wildemere Park since 1925, 101 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church

Shrine of the Black Madonna, school, 2019 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shrine of the Black Madonna, 2019 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1925, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church opened in Wildemere Park.

Credit the design to George D. Mason, in the Colonial style.

It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.

Go see it at 7625 Linwood St. Photos never get the scale right.

The Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church, or more simply the Shrine of the Black Madonna, is a church building located at 7625 Linwood Street in Detroit, Michigan. It is significant for its association with civil rights leader Rev. Albert B. Cleage Jr., and as the location of many significant 20th century African American civil rights activities.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1925 Built Designed by George D. Mason
  2. 2021 Listed on the National Register February 5, 2021
  3. 2026 Today 101 years and still standing

Where it is

7625 Linwood St.

On this map

  1. Shrine of the Black Madonna of the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church This place
  2. C.L. Franklin House 0.2 mi
  3. Lee Plaza 0.3 mi
  4. New Bethel Baptist Church 0.4 mi
  5. Rosa L. and Raymond Parks Flat 0.4 mi
  6. Providence Hospital 0.4 mi
  7. St. Agnes Catholic Church 0.5 mi
  8. YMCA (Fisher Branch) 0.5 mi
  9. King Solomon Baptist Church 0.5 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

George D. Mason
Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Architect

George D. Mason

American architect, 1856 to 1948. Designed the Lincoln Motor Company Plant (1917) and 39 more in Metro Detroit

Also by George D. Mason

More from Detroit in the 1920s

Around the block

It is in Wildemere Park. 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. Shrine of the Black Madonna, 2019 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. Shrine of the Black Madonna, school, 2019 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Shrine of the Black Madonna, 2019 Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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.