Garr Family papers

Alfred Gaelton Garr (July 27, 1875 – July 23, 1944) was an early leader in the Pentecostal movement. Hundreds of churches were born out of his ministry, and he was a pioneer in the healing ministry of Pentecostalism. He became a leader in the Burning Bush movement before attending the Azusa Street Revival and subsequently devoting the rest of his life to healing evangelism and planting Pentecostal churches in the nation and across the globe. Garr was born in Danville, Kentucky to Oliver and Josephine Garr. His middle name was Gaelton, but later in life, he changed it to "Goodrich." He was the fifth and youngest child by 12 years, and particularly doted on by his older siblings and mother. Garr met Lillian G. Anderson (1876-1916) when they were in school at Ashbury College. They married and entered the ministry through the Methodist Church, and moved to California so Alfred could pastor an independent church, the Burning Bush Mission. It was at this time that the Azusa Street Revival broke out in Los Angeles. Garr was the first white pastor to receive baptism by the Holy Spirit on June 16, 1906 as a result of the revival. A week later, Garr was called to go to India and spread the message of Azusa Street, and so two weeks later he departed. Lillian died on April 12, 1916, and Garr went on to marry Hannah Lydia Erickson on July 26, 1918.

After returning from India, the Garr's traveled briefly around the United States until they settled in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1930. They began a tent revival and began to preach. After a miraculous healing, people began swarming to the tent and popularity increased dramatically. As the numbers grew, Garr looked for a larger location, purchasing lumber from the Charlotte Speedway to construct a tabernacle to seat several thousand people. The worship continued for several months in the tabernacle, until Garr bought Charlotte Civic Auditorium in the midst of the Great Depression. Construction to rebuild the new church took until June 18, 1933 when the auditorium was officially opened. Garr Auditorium quickly became the largest Pentecostal Church in the Eastern United States. Alfred Garr died on July 23, 1944, but Garr Auditorium was kept running by his wife, Hannah and son, Alfred G. Garr, jr (1911-2004).

Garr Auditorium, was known by several names over the years: Cannon Cathedral, Wesley Heights Church, Garr Tabernacle, or Garr Church. Founded in 1930 and officially moved into the building constructed in 1933, where the church stood for 80 years until 2010. The church was relocated after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, and moved to 7700 Wallace Rd in Charlotte, North Carolina. The original Garr Auditorium had a sign that said "Jesus Saves", constructed out of big white letters and mounted on top of the church. The sign was originally mounted on top of the church so planes passing over could see it. The sign became a local landmark, and even after the congregation was moved in 1989 after Hurricane Hugo, the sign still remained atop the original Garr Auditorium. In 2010, crews removed the sign from the decaying building.