Fire damages historic Detroit church complex connected to Black Catholics

The former St. Agnes Catholic Church, a Black parish in Detroit most recently known as Martyrs of Uganda Parish, was severely damaged in a fire this month that remains under investigation. 

The blaze lasted for more than four hours on June 3, according to the Detroit Fire Department, which received a call that day at 12:30am. The fire was eventually extinguished, though the rectory was a total loss.

“They did an awesome job, and due to their hard work and great work, they were able to preserve the structure of the church building,” DFD media director Corey McIsaac told The Detroit News.

The Gothic-style edifice, erected in 1923, has been vacant since 2006, when the Martyrs of Uganda parish was closed and its members transferred to St. Cecilia’s (now St. Charles Lwanga Catholic Church). The parish had been a thriving center of worship and education before the industrial upheaval of the late 20th century, hosting two visits by Mother Teresa and later a Missionaries of Charity convent.

The church was near the heart of the 1967 Detroit riot, a Black-led uprising that reshaped much of the city’s urban demographics. As White flight turned the Lasalle Park neighborhood into a largely Black district, the parish took on a new identity.

After a merger with nearby St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church in 1990, the parish was renamed to reflect its new membership. Fr Tyrone Robinson, an African American, was its first and only pastor. The closure of the Uganda Martyrs parish resulted in the removal of various historic artifacts, including pews and stained glass windows, in 2007. A historic pipe organ was stolen two years later.

At the time of this month’s fire, the condition of the former parish was reportedly very poor, having been affected by the elements and vandalism over the years. The property has changed hands multiple times since the parish closure, including theater producer Scott Griffin, controversial local developer Ron Castellano, and others. Parkstone Development Partners, a consultant for a former owner, moved forward with a rezoning request in 2022.

The current owner, Michael Rivait’s St. Agnes Lofts, LLC, was granted tax incentives in 2023 to build a $14.5 million residential complex at the site, including retail and community gathering spaces. That project, which involved plans to begin construction last year, had not started work at the time of the fire.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Detroit Fire Department for their swift and courageous response, which prevented even greater loss," Rivait told CBS News, adding that he plans to continue with redeveloping the site.

Detective William Drabkowski, of the Detroit Police Department's arson section, is leading the investigation into the fire. Efforts by BCM to reach him were unsuccessful.

The Archdiocese of Detroit says it has had “no connection” with the site since it was sold in 2009.

Nate Tinner-Williams is co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger.

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