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The Black church is where you will find the most stylish people in the world. 

An impromptu fashion show unfolded in the sanctuary of Witherspoon Presbyterian Church on a late Easter Sunday morning. It was led by the Rev. Winterbourne LaPucelle Harrison-Jones, who is the pastor of the church. The Adinkra symbol, Gye Nyame, which means “supremacy of God,” was embroidered on his robe.

Accessories were the true star of the show. Mini-sculptures dangled from mature earlobes. Ornate hats or “crowns” sat atop heads, obstructing the view for some. 

Parishioners sat in the pews, service bulletins in hand, wearing dresses, suits, two-piece sets, blazers and skirts the colors of spring: mauve, blush pink, teal, chartreuse, tangerine, butter yellow and crimson. 

Mirror Indy witnessed members of Witherspoon serving the Lord and serving looks on the holiday. See our photos and listen to them tell the stories behind what they were wearing.

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Mirror Indy reporter Mesgana Waiss covers arts and culture. Contact her at 317-667-2643 or mesgana.waiss@mirrorindy.org.

Brett Phelps is a community photojournalist for Mirror Indy in partnership with Report for America and Catchlight Local. Contact Brett by email brett.phelps@mirrorindy.org.

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Easter Sunday in Indy: Serving the Lord and serving looks

by Mesgana Waiss and Brett Phelps, Mirror Indy
April 7, 2026

<h1>Easter Sunday in Indy: Serving the Lord and serving looks</h1> <p class="byline">by Mesgana Waiss and Brett Phelps, Mirror Indy <br />April 7, 2026</p> <br /> <figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_19.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77152" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ky’ron Owens, 14, holds up the Gye Nyame symbol at the conclusion of the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure> <p>The Black church is where you will find the most stylish people in the world.&nbsp;</p> <p>An impromptu fashion show unfolded in the sanctuary of Witherspoon Presbyterian Church on a late Easter Sunday morning. It was led by the Rev. Winterbourne LaPucelle Harrison-Jones, who is the pastor of the church. The Adinkra symbol, Gye Nyame, which means “supremacy of God,” was embroidered on his robe.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_04.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77135" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Rev. Winterbourne LaPucelle Harrison-Jones leads the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure> <p>Accessories were the true star of the show. Mini-sculptures dangled from mature earlobes. Ornate hats or “crowns” sat atop heads, obstructing the view for some.&nbsp;</p> <p>Parishioners sat in the pews, service bulletins in hand, wearing dresses, suits, two-piece sets, blazers and skirts the colors of spring: mauve, blush pink, teal, chartreuse, tangerine, butter yellow and crimson.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mirror Indy witnessed members of Witherspoon serving the Lord and serving looks on the holiday. See our photos and listen to them tell the stories behind what they were wearing. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image alignfull size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_12.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77144" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Members of the congregation give praise during the worship songs at the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-columns"> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_29.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77126" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sandra Gay wears an aso oke, a Nigerian handwoven fabric. </figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center"> <figure class="wp-block-audio aligncenter"><audio controls src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Sandra_BC.mp3"></audio><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Listen to Sandra Gay, 76, describe her Easter Sunday church outfit</figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-columns"> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center"> <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Celeste_BC.mp3"></audio><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Listen to Celeste Mann talk about her Easter Sunday church outfit.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_26.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77123" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Celeste Mann, 71, wears an outfit that she chose with her mother in mind. “I love it. I love it. I love it,” she said. “It’s like an attitude hat.” </figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_09.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77139" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Imani Liturgical Dance Team performs during the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_17.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77141" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Erma Turner, 94, sings during the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-columns"> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_25.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77122" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Robert Martin, 33, wears a butter-yellow outfit that was inspired by the Black cultural practice of putting on your best clothes on Sundays to worship the Lord. </figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center"> <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Robert_BC.mp3"></audio><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Listen to Robert Martin, husband of associate pastor the Rev. Joty Allison at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church, talk about his Easter Sunday church outfit.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-columns"> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center"> <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Keesha_BC.mp3"></audio><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hear Keesha Dixon, 72, talk about her Easter Sunday church outfit.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_27.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77124" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Keesha Dixon wears a white lace boubou and a Nigerian feather crown, adorned with white beaded handwork lined with cowrie shells and coins. </figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_02.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77146" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Markell Pipkins sings during the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. Witherspoon's pastor, the Rev. Winterbourne LaPucelle Harrison-Jones, later pulled Pipkins to the stage to show off his white suit.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_14.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77147" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">At the conclusion of the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, members of the congregation were given butterfly pins as a symbol that God can change anything and anybody over time.</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-columns alignwide"> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_34.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77131" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Erwin Golden Sr., 67, wears one of his favorite custom-made suits. Golden and his wife coordinated their outfits to be black-and-white themed.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center"> <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Goldens_BC.mp3"></audio><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Listen to Tamara Davis Golden and her husband, Erwin Golden Sr., talk about their Easter Sunday church outfits.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_39.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77188" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tamara Davis Golden, 63, wears a pearl shawl accompanied by lace gloves she bought to wear to the Kentucky Derby while living in Louisville.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-columns alignwide"> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center"> <figure class="wp-block-audio"><audio controls src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/David_BC.mp3"></audio><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Listen to David Glover, 45, talk about the significance of his Easter Sunday church outfit.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_35.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77132" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">David Glover, 45, wears purple accents on his suit in remembrance of a church member who died. </figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div> <figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_36.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77150" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Members of the congregation give praise during the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_11.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77143" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Delois Berry greets members of the congregation during the passing of the peace at the Easter service April 5, 2026, at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis.</figcaption></figure> <div class="wp-block-columns alignwide"> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_24.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77121" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ky’ron Owens, 14, and his sister Khori, 9, pose in their Easter Sunday outfits.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_23.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77120" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Elodie Killins, 61, with her African mask crossbody bag on Easter Sunday.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <div class="wp-block-column"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260405_BLACK-CHURCH-EASTER-FASHION_BP_21.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-77118" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Onnie Corbin, 22, and her daughter, O’moura Reese, 3, pose in their Easter Sunday outfits.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> </p></div></p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/easter-sunday-church-black-people-fashion-indianapolis/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org&quot;&gt;Mirror Indy&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p> &lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=77184&amp;amp;ga4=G-X0R0QW371R&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mirrorindy.org/easter-sunday-church-black-people-fashion-indianapolis/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mirrorindy.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

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