Bishop C. M. Grace, founder of the United House Of Prayer For All People, conducts a Baptismal service at Lakewood Park on September 12, 1926. Hundreds of followers, both black and white, attended the service.

Covered with verses from Scripture, this automobile with its angel on top was a billboard on wheels. It invited everyone to come and see Bishop C. M. Grace at the church he founded, the United House Of Prayer For All People.

 

When House Of Prayer leader Bishop C. M. Daddy Grace died in 1960, his body was returned to Charlotte so his followers could pay their respects. Mourners trailed the funeral procession through the city streets.

 

 

Hundreds of followers attended Bishop C. M. Graces funeral at the United House Of Prayer on S. McDowell St. on January 11, 1960.

 

 

Bishop Walter McCollough in the annual United House Of Prayer parade in 1961. McCollough became the church leader following the death in 1960 of founder C. M. Daddy Grace.

 

 

Bishop Walter McCollough baptized 465 church membersas a brass band played for the crowd of over 1,000 people that gathered at the House Of Prayer on Sunday, September 12, 1965.

 

 

Darryl and Tony Alexander attend the 1965 House of Prayer celebration and parade with their grandmother. The annual event held each year on the second Sunday of September drew thousands of devoted worshippers who participated in the churchs crusade, revival meetings and parade.

 

 

Hands are raised as worshippers move to the message of Bishop Walter McCollough, leader of the United House Of Prayer For All People. The 1965 Charlotte crusade drew crowds of believers who gathered to hear Bishop McCollough, and the trombone shout bands who performed at the events.

 

As crowds swelter in the late-summer heat, fire hoses cool down the worshippers who gather in Brooklyn to be baptized by Bishop Walter McCollough at the 1966 House Of Prayer crusade.

 

 

Once urban renewal began in Charlottes black neighborhoods, many churches, homes and businesses were demolished to make way for the modern improvements the city determined were necessary. The House Of Prayer on S. McDowell St. was one of the churches that was destroyed.