Happy Father’s Day!

 

In honor of the holiday, here’s a picture of one of my father’s churches. Everybody’s Tabernacle was in Baltimore, circa early 1960s. I imagine it caused a bit of a stir, when that gothic-inspired Episcopal building got converted to a Pentecostal church! As was my father’s wont, we didn’t stay here very long. About six months after he established this congregation, we dusted off the tent, packed our belongings, and once again hit the Sawdust Trail. 

The little girl who’s daydreaming smiling in a different direction than everybody else? Yep, that’s me.

38 Comments

  1. A wonderful, evocative pic. (Though I can’t help a wince of sympathy at your mom with her waist cinched in so tight…those were the days of “suffer for your beauty”!)

  7. what an amazing picture, Melodye
    I’m trying to remember where this is located.
    I’d like to check the location and see what’s standing there now. There’s so many old churches here, I wonder if it’s still standing (I remember looking up the cross streets once while talking to you but don’t remember the outcome)

    • 405 Orchard Rd.

      It’s my understanding that the church (and maybe even that street) was raized many years ago, clearing the way for a thoroughfare. When we lived there, the area was suffering from urban blight. If you happen upon it, I’d love to see a picture of what the surroundings look like today.

      • Hi Melodye,
        (Without my camera – ahhh!) I drove around Orchard Rd. yesterday and found some very old and new churches, housing projects, and kids selling bottled water in the rush hour traffic. This weekend I’ll take a picture of the site when I have a friend w/ me and there’s less traffic – but I had a good sense of the history there with the old buildings converted to one thing or another…stay tuned….
        -Citycat

    • I think you’re right. Aside from the personality I was born with, my inner strength is the yin-yang result of the situations I had to face. That’s likely true for many of us, don’t you think?

      *HUGS you back*

  10. The little girl who’s daydreaming smiling in a different direction than everybody else? Yep, that’s me.

    I liked this part. 🙂

  11. Melodye: Was the church really called EVERBODY’S or did you mean EVERYBODY’S? Who decides what to name a church and how did your dad take possession of this one? What did he have to do to take over the congregation here? These things fascinate me.

    I love it that may be local enough to put some perspective on this photo and show you what the site looks like today. (Sometimes truth hurts and there are things we don’t want to see.)

    But your eyes. Your expression. Looking off into the distance. Even then at such a beautiful, young moment in your life. Even then, Melodye, you were always thinking, always looking deeper, always stirring the contents of your soul and trying to make them mean something. You didn’t just do as you were told, hold a grin (fake or genuine) for the camera, and wait for the image to be captured. What was important to you were the images in your head. Those are the things that meant the most to you because I suspect you knew, even then, that “Someday, I will do something with the life I am leading… and make my life matter.”

    I wish I knew you then.

    -Pamela

    • Oops!It’s Everybody’s Tabernacle. I appreciate the edit!

      As an independent preacher, my father named all of his churches. I imagine church affiliates have a set process they go through. The process by which he acquired this church is very interesting, so (ahem, sorry) I’ll save it for the book.

      I’ve researched/spoken with Baltimore archivists about this building and vicinity, so I do know a little about what happened after we left. Still, I’m looking forward to seeing the “after” pictures.

      You said a mouthful in that last paragraph, Pamela. Clearly, you get it. Get me, more to the point. That’s Thank you for honoring me by putting it all into words. I wish I knew you then, too, but our friendship might have led to heartache instead of the joy it brings today. xo

    • I see it, too, and it makes my heart very happy for little Melodye! In later childhood pictures, the candle burns less bright, but here…hope shines on my five-year-old face.

  14. The little girl who’s daydreaming smiling in a different direction than everybody else? Yep, that’s me.

    That picture is worth a thousand words… independent little cuss weren’t you? I love the cowboy boots with one sock up and one sock down.

    Thanks for sharing Melodye … your photos make me want to read your memoir even more.

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