History

Celebrating Our Past By Celebrating Our Future

St. Cyprian’s Protestant Episcopal Church has the distinction of being the only Episcopal Church established by and for African-Americans on the west side of Detroit. This historical parish mirrors the growth and emergence of Detroit’s black population and its struggle for justice and equality. Significantly, the great migration of black people from the south to the cities of the north increased Detroit’s black popu­lation from 5,000 to over 40,000 between the years 1910 and 1925. The discriminatory practices of churches, other institutions, and neighborhoods were challenged by the increasing number of blacks coming to live on the west side of Detroit.

St. Cyprian’s is the daughter church of St. Matthew’s Church which was founded on the east side of Detroit in 1846, and was the oldest black Episcopal Church in Michigan. African-Americans who lived on the west side of Detroit traveled across town to St. Matthew’s Church for Sunday School and other church services. Usually, this was a time-consuming trip by streetcar on Sunday morning.

Among those who made this weekly round-trip from Thirtieth Street were Mrs. Nellie Warren and her son, Francis, who was crippled. For them, going to Sunday School was especially arduous; and Mrs. War­ren sought a better way to provide this valued experience for her family. She asked Father Robert Bagnall, the Rector of St. Matthew’s Church to petition the Diocese to establish an Episcopal Church School on the city’s west side.

The response was a plan for Francis Warren and the other Westside children to attend Sunday School in their neighborhood at 3:00 in the afternoon at St. James Episcopal Church on Twenty-eighth Street and Warren Avenue. However, when this small group of black children and their parents arrived at the church, the Rector withdrew his promise to accommodate the Sunday School in his church even though it was scheduled for a different time than the Sunday School for the white children. The group was refused entrance.

The closed door was a catalyst for other doors to open; and, literally, six women arranged to carry the Church School from house to house; namely: Beulah Carter, Clara Fullum, Veronica Lucas, Maud Stevens, Nellie Warren and Gussie Wheeler. First, the Church School was housed in the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Lucas on Thirtieth Street. Next, it was moved to the home of Mrs. Gussie Wheeler on Hartford Street; and later, a building was rented on Stanford Street which, in addition to housing the Church School, was used as a general neighborhood house and community social center. When the School outgrew this building, Father Bagnall, supported by Bishop Williams, persuaded the Diocese to establish a parish in this Westside com­munity.

Accordingly, the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan purchased three lots and erected a temporary, framed church at Twenty-eighth Street and Milford Avenue. St. Cyprian’s was born in its mission stage, and the proud congregation of African-Americans moved into the Mission building, although it was incomplete, on October 1, 1919.

Father Bagnall held Sunday evening services at St. Cyprian’s Mission until Reverend Charles S. Sedgwick arrived from the Diocese of New Jersey. He was installed as St. Cyprian’s first full-time priest on December 2, 1919.

St. Cyprian’s was established as a mission parish in 1919 under Section 1, Canon 4 of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Diocese of Michigan. St. Cyprian’s Mission was dedicated on January 17, 1920 by Father Bagnall. At this time, twenty-one persons from St. Matthew’s Church transferred their membership to St. Cyprian’s and became the nucleus for this historical Westside Episcopal mission.

It was fitting that the new Episcopal mission for African -Americans would be dedicated to the patron, St. Cyprian, an African bishop from Carthage who, during the third century, suffered persecution unto death because of his unwavering claim to Christianity.

Undaunted by the struggle, the small congregation went about the business of developing into a viable, community church.

St. Cyprian’s Mission Church developed with the leadership of three vicars: Father Charles S. Sedgwick from 1919-1924; Father James Satterwhite from 1924-1930; and Father J. R. Lewis from 1930-1936.

During the ministry of Father Satterwhite, the rectory was purchased, 6108 Twenty-eighth, the house adjoining the little Mission. Moreover, the need for a new church building to replace the temporary structure of 1919 was apparent.

Both Father Satterwhite and his successor, Father Lewis, attempted, without success, to obtain building funds and sanction from the Diocese for a new church. It was not until a January meeting in 1938, that the Diocese honored the request from Father Malcolm G. Dade who had been installed as Deacon-in-charge of St. Cyprian’s Mission, on January 16, 1936 and ordained as priest by Bishop Herman Page on August 23, 1936.

Unprecedented growth of the Mission under this visionary young priest from Bedford, Mas­sachusetts, provided the mandate to which the Diocesan Executive Council responded with the following provisions: (1) the new church would be modeled after Emanuel Episcopal Church lo­cated at John R. and Greendale Avenue; (2) the estimated cost would not exceed $25,000 of which St. Cyprian’s Mission would pay one-half within ten years.

On March 10, 1936, a contract covering the above provisions was signed between the Diocese and St. Cyprian’ s Mission. Thereafter, the old 1919 building was razed, ground was broken on March 22, 1938, and the cornerstone was laid on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1938. St. Cyprian’s, the New Church with a New Vision, was dedicated on Sunday, September 25, 1938. This vision was realized in the following acts:

1940 - Two years after the dedication of the new church building, St. Cyprian’s Mission be­came the first African-American mission to become an independent, self-sustaining parish, St. Cyprian’s Church; and in 1946, the church membership had increased to the size that required the institution of Father Dade as Rector from his status as Vicar.

1950 - On April 20th, St. Cyprian’s Church was consecrated, debt free, by Bishop Richard Emrich of the Diocese of Michigan. Incorporators of the 1950 Parish were Thomas A. Brown, Wallace J. Cox, William S. Hall, Roy J. Morton, Arthur J. Tomlinson, and Herbert U. White.

Growing from 100 members in 1936 to over 500 during the 1960’s, St. Cyprian’s became one of the most politically and community active churches in Detroit with the leadership of Father Dade and many parishioners who were labor and civic leaders. Moreover, the Diocese was well served by the following: Roy J. Morton, Willis M. Graves, Esq., Emella Cabule, Sadie Ramsey, Mavis Mason, Horace Rodgers, Esq.

Recorded in memories of the past are the many social and civic activities sponsored by St. Cyprian’s Church. In 1938, Father Dade initiated the Annual Appreciation Dinner at which cita­tions were presented to citizens who were outstanding in the cause of improving human relations. It was the first honors assembly of its kind, and was modeled by other organizations in the city. The Palm Sunday Tea, activities of the Girls Friendly Society, the Fall Bazaar, and presentations by national civil-rights advocates, were annual events which attracted the parishioners and the greater Detroit community.

Father Dade retired in 1973 having led the parish through expansion of the church structure to meet the requirements for a program-oriented church. He had guided the establishment of other missions, including the Church of the Resurrection in Ecorse.

Rev. Kenneth Curry had a brief tenure as the second Rector of St. Cyprian's. He was succeeded by Rev. James W. Francis in 1974. Father Francis terminated his rectorship in 1984 to become Canon of the Cathedral in Bermuda, his homeland. He was succeeded by Rev. Williams James Walker from 1986-1987. Rev. Joseph A. Harmon, called to be the fifth Rector, held the position from 1988-1989.

In March of 1991, the Rev. Dr. Donald M. Lutas was installed. Father Lutas has given impetus to the imperatives for renewal, revival, and growth of the Parish. Encouraged by the long range plan for St. Cyprian's Church as developed by the parishioners, Father Lutas steers toward attainment of the mission of St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church to be a beacon of hope in the community. Since his arrival the church building and grounds have been improved for efficient and effective use by parishioners and the greater community of Detroit.

In 1993, St. Cyprian’s was designated for historical recognition by the City Council of Detroit.

6114 Twenty-Eighth Street · Detroit, MI 48210

Office: (313) 896-7515 · Fax: (313) 896-6280

Email: Stcypchurch@Scypriansdet.org

The Rev. Dr. Donald M. Lutas, Pastor/Rector

Spiritual Discipline  U Evangelical Preaching  U Liberal Fellowship  U Catholic Worship