Famous people's places / Detroit – West Side
Straightgate Church
A Detroit gospel congregation where the reunion of pioneering gospel group Commissioned was captured live on album in 2001.
01 / The story of this place
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Straight Gate International Church was founded in Detroit in 1978 by Bishop Andrew Merritt and Pastor Viveca Merritt, growing from a small storefront ministry into one of the city's larger non-denominational congregations on Grand River Avenue. On October 26, 2001, the church hosted a reunion concert by Commissioned, the influential Detroit gospel group whose alumni include Fred Hammond, one of contemporary gospel's biggest names. The concert was recorded live and released as Commissioned's reunion album the following year, capturing the group's original members back together for the first time in years. The church continues to hold services on Grand River Avenue today. Today the congregation numbers in the thousands and runs an active music ministry of its own, a fitting echo of the gospel history tied to its sanctuary.
- Founded in Detroit in 1978 by Bishop Andrew Merritt
- Hosted Commissioned's reunion concert on October 26, 2001
- Fred Hammond, a Commissioned alumnus, performed here that night
- Still an active congregation on Grand River Avenue
Famous Detroiters
Famous people tied to this place 1
Lexicon entries for the people who lived, worked, performed or liked to spend time here.
- Fred Hammond born 1960 · gospel singer, bassist, producer
Performed here
Commissioned's reunion concert was recorded live at this Detroit church on October 26, 2001.
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Sources & fact check · Checked: 2026-09-25
An independently written bilingual guide. This collection is not an attendance-based ranking.
03 / Events
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