In December 1933, four sanctified believers along with Elder Claude Griffith as their leader began holding prayer meetings in one room of a small house in an urban area of Louisville Kentucky called “Eddy Alley.” This house belonged to Brother William Woods and his wife Sister Irene Woods. Services were held there until 1935 when they rented a small storefront at 15th and Madison Streets.

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As the congregation grew, they later moved to a storefront in an old, dilapidated building at 20th and Madison Streets. The sanctuary was very small; approximately 25X40 feet. The name on the window of that church read, “Apostolic Holiness Faith.”

​Elder Griffith was inspired to build a church as the congregation grew, so a lot at 1942 Cedar Street was purchased. However, due to the intrusion of World War II, the acquisition of building materials was almost impossible to obtain.

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Deacon James Rakes, a member of the church and an employee of Reynolds Aluminum Company, told his supervisor about the problem. Word spread to company officials, who set up a meeting with Elder Griffith. God put it into the hearts of the executive officials of Reynolds to make a donation for all of the materials necessary to construct the first “all aluminum” church in the USA.

​The estimated cost of the materials at the time was $40,000 – more than the total annual income of the entire congregation. Construction of a new church was begun and completed with God’s overarching providence.

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The late Bishop David T. Schultz, diocesan of the Kentucky Episcopal dioceses branch of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW) dedicated the church on December 19, 1948. The church was named, “Christ Temple.”

In August 1958, Elder Griffith was invited to attend the National Holy Convocation of the newly formed Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith (PCAF). Bishop Samuel N. Hancock was the founder and Presiding Prelate at that time. Christ Temple joined the P.C.A.F and Elder Griffith was promoted to the bishopric.

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Throughout its 92-year history, Christ Temple has continued to experience exponential growth and ministry expansion. Christ Temple has been blessed with a rich legacy of leadership, from Bishop Claude Griffith (1933-1961), Bishop Robert L. Little (1962-1992), Bishop Michael E. Ford, Sr. (1992-2020), and our current senior pastor, Bishop Michael Ford, Jr.