US churches face continuing campaign of vandalism into 2025: List

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter
Friday, July 25, 2025

Firefighters extinguish a fire at The Clayborn Temple Church of Memphis, Tennessee, in April 2025. | Screengrab/YouTube/ABC24 Memphis

3. Clayborn Temple Church

In April, the former Clayborn Temple Church in Memphis, Tennessee, was severely damaged by an act of arson. Although the church has been closed since 1999, the building is considered a historic site because of its ties to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

The Memphis Fire Department provided an update on its investigation into the incident in May, concluding that “the fire was intentionally set [in] the interior of the historic church” and “a person of interest is being sought by Investigators for their possible involvement in this fire.” In the weeks following the act of arson, the building received approximately $1.5 million in donations for its restoration.

Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com

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