Customer Reviews

Soul Sanctuary: Images of the African American Worship Experience

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I have viewed this book in several stores and have several times considered purchasing it, always deciding on another purchase, preferring to choose it again another time. Well, by generosity and thoughtfulness a friend purchased this for me as a gift. Many heartfelt thanks!

I was so pleased to have recieved it and wondered how she could have known. This beautifully photographed coffee table book is full of artistic and candid pictures of African American churches across the United States. Many of the portraits returned me to my childhood as I viewed the traditional clothing, vestments, altar dressings and familiar traditions that so many people of color hold in reverence. The less aquainted author probably would have focused on the preachers or perhaps the choirs but Jason Miccolo Johnson gave equal attention to all levels of participation in the black Christian tradition. It makes for a facinating and charming book.

Mr. Johnson has afforded the reader an opportunity to see the diversity that exists within the black church connected to our embrace of Christianity in the African American tradition. The baptist, catholic, AME, CME, apostolic, pentecostal and SDA traditions are all represented. Personally, I think the author left out one distinct African American tradition; the inclusion of the storefront church. Very many black people attend such churches in the urban centers of the United States. I would venture to guess that many of the churches profiled in this book originally worshipped in such make shift houses of worship or can trace their begginings to such humble origins.

Soul Sanctuary is a beautiful trip across country, tradition and culture with just the passing of a page. Again, many thanks.

Props to Jason Miccolo Johnson for bringing this great compilations of the Black Church Expereince&overall Vibe that is Soulful&means so much. very detailed&you will be moved.

"Jason Miccolo Johnson has compiled a wonderful tribute to the African American Worship Experience! This book is a MUST-HAVE!"
-Rev. Nolan Williams, Jr., Chief Music Editor of the African American Heritage Hymnal