What was the name of Aretha Franklin's father's church in Detroit?

Aretha Franklin’s father, C. L. Franklin, was the pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. The church became the spiritual and cultural center of Aretha’s childhood and the place where she first developed as a gospel singer.

C. L. Franklin became New Bethel’s pastor in 1946, when Aretha was about five years old. He was a nationally famous Baptist preacher known for his powerful speaking voice and civil-rights activism. Under his leadership, the Detroit congregation grew substantially and became influential in the city’s Black community.

Aretha sang solos at New Bethel as a child, and the church’s musical life introduced her to gospel musicians including James Cleveland. In 1956, at age 14, she made some of her earliest recordings at the church, including performances later associated with the album Songs of Faith.

New Bethel also played a major role in Detroit’s civil-rights movement. The church hosted organizing and fundraising events, while C. L. Franklin helped plan the 1963 Detroit Walk to Freedom, a landmark demonstration addressed by Martin Luther King Jr.