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Fire that destroyed historic Clayborn Temple in Memphis was intentionally set, investigators say

Fire that destroyed historic Clayborn Temple in Memphis was intentionally set, investigators say


The fire that destroyed the Clayborn Temple, a historic Black church in downtown Memphis that was the organizing point for Martin Luther King Jr.’s final campaign in 1968, was intentionally set, investigators said Wednesday.

The Memphis Fire Department said the fire on April 28 was started on the interior of the church, and authorities are searching for a person of interest.

Firefighters outside the historic Clayborn Temple, a landmark from the Civil Rights Movement with ties to Martin Luther King Jr., after it caught fire Monday, April 28, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn.

Karen Pulfer Focht / AP


Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat last month described the inside of the church as “a total loss.”

A $11,000 cash reward is being offered for information regarding the massive blaze, authorities said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.



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