Church History
It is a true blessing that God has blessed that church on the corner of Linden and Lauderdale. Mt. Olive Cathedral is enveloped in a deep and rich history which dates back to the " Jug Factory" where it all began at the corner of South Orleans and Georgia Avenue in Memphis, under the leadership of Reverend Armour.
As the membership grew, they moved to a rented building, and then on to build a frame church on Georgia Avenue. A brick church was then built. From Reverend Harlee to Reverend W.A. Johnson, the church and its dreams grew. The next vision was to move to the present site in 1952.
Reverend W.A. Johnson died before this vision could materialize, so Reverend Phillip E. Brooks, Sr. carried on this task. Purchasing this church edifice from the white congregation of First Baptist Church in 1952 was a monumental undertaking; and also noteworthy, the white congregation, under the leadership of Reverend Paul Caudill, allowed the Mt. Olive congregation to funeralize Reverend Johnson in the new church! This act of kindness back in segregated 1952 made the New York Times! O what a glorious God we serve!
Reverend P.E. Brooks and the Mt. Olive family succeeded in securing the financing the finalize the purchase of the church building at 538 Linden.
Reverend Henry C. Bunton (later Bishop Bunton), Reverend Theodore Lightfoot, Jr., Reverend N. Charles Thomas (interim), Reverend Nehemiah Mitchum, Reverend Alex Chambers, Reverend Julius Scipio, Reverend Dr. Jerry Christian and Reverend John Marshall Gilmore have blessed the membership throughout the history of this great church.
Mt. Olive Cathedral continues to serve the Memphis Community in many service-oriented capacities. The church is deeply involved in interests concerning the surrounding downtown neighborhood projects and the needs of the downtown neighborhood families.
We are now blessed ot have Reverend Dr. Stevey M. Wilburn, Sr. as we go into our 120th year of serving our Lord and Savior!
