Allen Temple CME Church Returns Home 'Rises From the Ashes Like a Phoenix'

Allen Temple CME Church’s will celebrate its re-opening opening on Monday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m., 4236 NE 8th Ave., with a press conference and ribbon cutting ceremony. federal, state, city and county elected officials have been invited.

haynes groundbreaking med Senior Pastor and Presiding Elder the Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes at groundbreaking (Photo courtesy Allen Temple CME Church)Senior Pastor and Presiding Elder the Rev. Dr. LeRoy Haynes felt it was appropriate to celebrate the restoration of this historic African American church on the last day of Black History Month.

On Feb. 7, 2015 the 100-year-old historic church suffered a devastating fire. Two electrical fires caused major damage to the roof and interior of all levels of the church. It has been a challenging journey to rebuild, overcoming many barriers of construction, budget and impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Since 1949 Allen Temple CME Church has been a community-oriented church serving North-Northeast Portland communities through many outreach programs. All of Allen Temple CME Church outreach programs are now operational: Emergency Aide Center, Homeless Outreach Team Services, Resurrection Drug & Alcohol Prevention and Recovery, AIDS/HIV Support Services and Social Justice Advocacy. The church is now open holding in-person and live-streaming services. The new day center will be operational this summer.

During construction church services were held temporarily at nearby Maranatha Church until the COVID 19 pandemic.

Architects Bill Hart and Logan Cravens of Carleton Hart Architecture led the the project together until a new direction was charted. The $3 million for construction included major infrastructure city code upgrades. Joel Andersen, CEO of Andersen Construction and his team, answered the call to rescue the project which included 70 in-kind partners collaborating with Nate McCoy III., executive director, National Association of Minority Contractors of Oregon.

allen temple cme church damage full On Feb. 7, 2015 the 100-year-old historic church suffered a devastating fire
Many other partners and donors helped push the project to the finish line. They are: Carleton Hart Architecture, Andersen Construction, HMS Development, NAMCO, Hart Development, Joe Weston Investments, Prosper Portland, City of Portland, Neil Kelly, Raimore Construction, Décor Cabinets, Walsh Construction, Hoffman Construction, Precision Construction, Pence Construction, Hamilton Construction, PCRI, Sundt Construction, Centrex Construction, Constructing Hope, Portland Youth Builders, Zana Construction, Sherwin Williams, Luis Palau Association, Catalyst NW Partnerships, POIC Rosemary Anderson Apprenticeship Academy, Colas Construction, Valley Growers Nursery, Habitat for Humanity, Homebuilders Foundation, Williams & Dame Development, Oregon Harbor of Hope, Albina Construction, National Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Maranatha Church, Kiewit Construction, Life Change Church, Vancouver Avenue Baptist Church, Bethel AME Church, Tech Source Enterprises, Floor Factors, Augustana Lutheran Church, ICON 3d Signs, Pro Lath & Plaster, JE Dunn Construction, Deacon Construction, LaZy Boy Furniture, Collins Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, NE Coalition of Neighborhoods, Portland Sand & Gravel, Christine Rains Graphics, Revive Upholstery, Ramsay Signs, IBEW, Randall Charitable Trust, The Contingent, NW Church Relief Fund, Trinity Episcopal

Cathedral, Allen Temple CME Church Congregation, Allen Temple CME Church Capital Campaign Committee, The Skanner, Portland Observer, Moreland Resource Consulting, PBDG, Fortis Construction, Tarlow, Naito & Summers, Leak Seal Roofing, Larkins, Vacura & Kayser and NW Carpenters Union.

The church is planning four separate celebration events to recognize everyone who was involved in the restoration.

Schedule: