Black History Month: 8 historically significant African American churches

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Trinity United Church of Christ — Chicago, Illinois

Worshippers arrive for services at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Sunday, March 11, 2007. | Photo: AP Images / Brian Kersey

Trinity United Church of Christ of Chicago, Illinois, was founded in 1961, only a few years removed from the founding of the United Church of Christ.

Adopting the view of “Unashamedly Black and Unapologetically Christian,” the congregation has focused on progressive causes, including social justice and liberation theology.

The church gained national attention in 2008 when a longtime attendee, then-U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, ran to become the first African American president.

This included controversy over the sermons of its longtime senior pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., especially one viral video of him infamously declaring “God damn America!”

The controversy did not appear to diminish their presence, as the congregation reported having around 8,000 active members in 2008, when Obama won the presidential election.