Buggs Temple History

The Story of Buggs’ Temple

Today, nestled in the midst of several new Clarian Health contemporary buildings, is a grand monument to the history of Indy’s near northwest side.  Is it a house?  A store?  A shop? No.  It is Buggs’ Temple, one of the oldest church buildings in the near northwest area and the signature building at the north end of the downtown canal development.

Historical Importance

During the 70s and 80s, Buggs’ Temple was not only the home of its congregants but its name and location became synonymous with the best gospel singing in Indianapolis.  Its open doors to local gospel singers and concert promoters made it the place for gospel artists and gospel music lovers to gather almost every weekend to enjoy the area’s finest talent and often the nation’s top gospel recording artists.

The Beginning

To understand its availability to the gospel singer is to simply take a look at its pastor, Elder James C. Buggs.  It was 1955 when a young  preacher came to Indianapolis from Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He weekly fellowshipped with several of the churches in the denomination where he often preached or was called upon to play his trumpet.  Ager a few years of developing notoriety, he organized a small fellowship, which eventually became the small church at 23rd & New Jersey called Buggs’ Temple.  It was at this location that Elder Buggs and his small congregation began to open it’s doors to local singers, groups like evangelist Essie Poole and the Gospel Pearls, Willean Suggs, The Wandering Travelers, the Sacred Four, Big JC and the Traveling Innerlights, The Oliver Youth Choir, The Jordonaires, The Silverhearts, The Blakely Specials, The Music Masters and would appear to the delight of the temple members and gospel music lovers from across the city.

The Transition

Fire destroyed the New Jersey Street building, causing Elder Buggs to begin the search for a new location.  Over the years he had developed appreciable business savvy and his street smarts were keen.  While searching possibilities, he discovered that the University United Methodist Church was building a new facility on the city’s north side and needed to sell its location at 11th and Missouri streets.  Elder Buggs entered in to negotiations with University Church officials and soon reached a deal to purchase the decaying but spacious building later that year the church made the move to the new site and a new era in the history of Buggs’ Temple  began.

Building a Legacy

Cold, drafty and expensive to heat in the winter and windows raised and church fans fluttering in the hands of attendees due to extreme summer heat, local singers and their fans again flocked to the Temple.  The increase in audience capacity generated greater crowds and caused gospel concert promoters to begin using the Church to present national recording artists.  Over the heyday years of Buggs’ Temple appearing artists read like a gospel who’s who list.  It became common place to see annually, the Gospel Harmonettes, The Harmonizing Four, The Swan Silverstone, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama and Mississippi, the Nightingales, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, the Legendary Caravans, the Gospel Keynotes, Dorothy Norwood, Evangelist Shirley Caesar and the Crown Prince of Gospel, Reverend James Cleveland and the Cleveland Singers, and many more.  Even though there were objections from some church officials, Elder Buggs remained committed to keeping the church available for programs and concerts.  Much of the offerings and rental fees were used to pay for much needed repairs and to supplement the church’s operational budget.  It as also during these years that Elder Buggs became District Superintendant Buggs, gaining notoriety within the denomination locally and nationally as the “singer’s friend” throughout central Indiana.

Buggs’ Temple Becomes a Household Name

In 1971, Al “The Bishop” Hobbs, on-air gospel personality and director of religious programming at WTLC, the city’s only Black radio station, approached Elder Buggs to use the church for a 10:00 pm to Midnight Sunday night live broadcast.  Elder Buggs agreed and the Fellowship Hour was born.  Instantly a phenomenal success, every Sunday night the program brought the ministry of local singers and clergy ministries together in a spirit filled close to the day’s religious activities.  The live audience of hundred and the radio audience of thousands helped to make Buggs’ Temple a household name over the program’s four-year run.

Footnote

Buggs’ Temple was also famous for the culinary delights of Mother Corrine Arnold.  People came from miles around to partake of her BBQ, chicken and fish dinners, and her sweet potato pie.  As you dine in the new Buggs’ Temple on delicious menu items that are far from Mother Arnold’s specialties, you will still feel the joy that good food brought to those who got a meal there during its heyday.  As you sit in a wonderfully renovated space that so many experienced a spiritual feast of life changing gospel music, you will feel the joy of the legacy.  And if you listen closely, you just might hear Elder Buggs play a note or two on his trumpet.  Enjoy!

Compiled & Written by Dr. Al “The Bishop” Hobbs Historical Contributions by Elder Michael French, Pastor Associate Pastor