United House of Prayer - Levine Museum of the New South

Animated image of the location of the United House of Prayer today with the historic photo overlayed — In 1929, Bishop Charles Manuel "Sweet Daddy" Grace established a branch of United House of Prayer for all People in Brooklyn. Whether or not they attended the church, scores of residents lined the streets to see the annual Convocation parade that marched, danced, and sang its way through Uptown to the Mother House on McDowell Street. Though this location no longer exists, the Mother House was relocated to Beatties Ford Road in West Charlotte and there are several additional branches throughout the city. Historic photo: Courtesy of the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room – Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The House of Prayer’s Annual Parade

Kelly Alexander, Jr. describes what it was like to watch the United House of Prayer Convocation Parade march through Brooklyn.

The House of Prayer’s annual parade would come between the block that I lived in and Friendship [Baptist Church]. And, literally, you could stand on the sidewalk and the bands would go by. But, the big float that had Daddy Grace on it would go by and you could just look – I mean, I’m standing here and I could almost reach out and touch him as he would be sitting in a big chair, and he would reach down and he’d be throwing candy or something out to, you know, folk who were standing along the side of the street. And, you could see his long fingernails and flowing hair, you know, the whole nine yards.

Growing Up in the House of Prayer

Doris Williams reflects on the lessons she learned and experiences she had growing up in the House of Prayer.

Transcript: I was born and raised in the United House of Prayer for All People. And, that was a joy, because as children we were brought up, we were taught, you know, the right thing, like in Sunday school. We would go to Sunday school. And, our founding Bishop taught us to always be honest and do the right thing. Help others. And, that’s followed me to this day. Yup. Boy Scouts. It was a joy of mine to march on the drum and bugle corps band. Yup. I was, so I was brought up, you know, actually working in the church.

Where’d All These People Come From?

Arthur Griffin recalls the popularity of Sweet Daddy Grace’s annual parade.

Transcript: One of the largest events for African Americans in Mecklenburg County was Sweet Daddy Grace’s parade every September. And, so, there were just thousands of people. I don’t know where all these people came from. All these Black folk, you know, would come down McDowell Street to sit and watch the parade.

Charles Emmanuel “Sweet Daddy” GraceSweet Daddy Grace was born January 25, 1881, in Brava, Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa. He spent his formative years in Portugal and made his way to Wareham, Massachusetts, in 1902. In 1919, Grace incorporated the United House of Prayer for All People of the Church on the Rock of the Apostolic Faith and built his first church in West Wareham and his second church in New Bedford in 1922.

In the mid-1920s, Daddy Grace moved South, gathering followers at his tent revivals; through his preaching, faith healing, and mass baptism, he became known as the “the Black Christ.” In October 1926, he baptized 643 of his newfound followers in Charlotte, where he established the headquarters for the House of Prayer. Grace became known for his flamboyant dress and his traveling entourage of bodyguards. Thousands often gathered for his annual parades through the streets of Brooklyn. By 1950, Grace boasted over 350 churches throughout the country with an estimated 3 million followers. Grace died on January 12, 1960.

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