Fire that destroyed Clayborn Temple was 'intentional,' Memphis fire officials say

Yahoo

29-05-2025

The Memphis Fire Department, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, said the fire set at the historic Clayborn Temple was set intentionally.
The investigation into the fire included the Memphis Fire Department, and the National Response Team of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives began in the days following the April 28 fire.
"Investigators have determined the fire was intentionally set on the interior of the historic church," the post said. "A person of interest is being sought by Investigators for their possible involvement in this fire."
With the conclusion of the onsite investigation, Clayborn Temple has been relinquished back to the management team.
The Memphis Fire Department will continue its investigation to "apprehend who is responsible for setting the fire at the historic church."
Large portions of the historic Clayborn Temple in Downtown Memphis burned to the ground on April 28.
In a post to X on the day of the fire, the Memphis Fire Fighters Association said the call about the fire came in early on the morning of April 28. Memphis Fire Department firefighters were able to get most of the fire put out within an hour of arriving on the scene.
On May 1, parts of the remaining church collapsed due to strong winds and severe storm conditions, the department said in a post on X.
The site, at 294 Hernando St., had been undergoing years of renovations to preserve the iconic structure, but had struggled to get all the funding for needed repairs.
In late 2023, a $6 million second phase of restoration to the structure was completed. That phase included preserving stained glass windows and reinforcing the attic, according to previous reporting from The Commercial Appeal. The third phase of renovations was expected to cost about $25 million.
During the Sanitation Workers' Strike of 1968, both civil rights and labor activists gathered at and organized out of Clayborn Temple.
Brooke Muckerman is a political reporter for The Commercial Appeal, covering the city of Memphis, Shelby County Government and MSCS Board of Education. She can be reached at [e-mail] and via phone at 901-484-6225
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Clayborn Temple fire was intentional, Memphis Fire Department says