In 2006, the Chicago City Council officially declared Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, also known as 40th, a Chicago Landmark. The church, located at 4021 South State Street, was honored because of its role in the historic four - day funeral for the slain 14 - year - old Emmett Till. Till’s funeral attracted international press attention and ignited the civil rights movement. While the story of Till’s funeral is an important part of the Church’s history, Roberts Temple was one of Chicago’s first “mega-churches”, established in 1916. It was the home church for many well - known Gospel firsts such as Arizona Dranes and Sister Rosetta Tharpe - now recognized as the Godmother of Rock n’ Roll. It was one of the first Black churches in Chicago with a live radio broadcast produced by another Roberts Temple family member and the first black US radio DJ Jack L. Cooper. Its founder Bishop William Roberts’s family gave hope to thousands of Blacks during the Great Migration.