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Ebenezer Baptist Church - Heritage Sanctuary |
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A Brief History
Ebenezer was founded in 1886, nine years after reconstruction began. A band of 13 faithful people united under the leadership of the Rev. John A. Parker. Rev. Parker served as Ebenezer's first pastor at the original site on Airline Street from 1886 to 1894.
On March 14, 1894, the Rev. Adam Daniel Williams was called to pastor Ebenezer, a struggling church with seventeen members on the roll. During his first year as pastor he was responsible for adding approximately sixty-five members to the church. Rev. Williams liquidated the mortgage, purchased land near downtown Atlanta on McGruder Street and built a new church. With the continued growth of the congregation, the church on McGruder Street soon became too small. The membership moved their worship services to a storefront at 444 Edgewood Avenue while construction began on the Auburn Avenue site. The current church on Auburn Avenue was completed in 1922.
As pastor of Ebenezer, Rev. A.D Williams promoted black businesses, urged his congregation to become home owners, and "get a piece of the turf." He led them in the battle for adequate public accommodations for blacks, despite Jim Crow segregation laws. Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. served as assistant pastor to Rev. Williams from 1927 to 1930. Rev. King, Sr. became pastor of Ebenezer in 1931, following the death of Rev. Williams.
During Rev. King, Sr. tenure as Pastor of Ebenezer he had three Co- pastors. In 1960 his oldest son, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., joined his father as Co-Pastor, giving Ebenezer international stature. Following the assassination of Dr. King, Jr.on April 4, 1968, his younger son, the Rev. Alfred Daniel Williams King, Sr., replaced his brother as Ebenezer's second Co-Pastor. Rev. A. D. Kings tenure came to a close at his untimely death in 1970, and was followed by Dr. Otis Moss in 1971.
The Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. retired on August 1, 1975 after forty-four years of tremendous service to Ebenezer and the world. Guided by Dr. King's suggestions, the congregation of Ebenezer called Dr. Joseph L. Roberts, Jr. to be its fourth Senior Pastor.
In March 1999, the congregation moved into it's new home, Horizon Sanctuary, directly across the street from historic Ebenezer. Since that time, the National Park Service has managed and operated the historic church as an integral part of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. It is open daily for self-guided tours. Park Rangers give talks on the hour.
407 Auburn Ave., NE
Hours of Operation
Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sun. 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Summer Hours
Mon. - Sat. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sun. 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed January 1, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
Services- Information
- Programs
- Gift Shop
Throughout its long history, Ebenezer Baptist Church has been a spiritual home to many citizens of the "Sweet Auburn" community. Its most famous member, Martin Luther King, Jr., was baptized as a child in the church. After giving a trial sermon to the congregation at Ebenezer at the age of 18 Martin was ordained as a minister. In 1960 Dr. King, Jr. became a co-pastor of Ebenezer with his father, "Daddy" King. He remained in that position until his death in 1968. As a final farewell to his spiritual home Dr. King, Jr.'s funeral was held in the church.
In 2000 a study of the church building resulted in "Ebenezer Baptist Church, Historic Structure Report" being issued by the National Park Service. This reports serves as a guideline for the restoration of the church.
CHURCH RESTORATION
In 2001, thanks to a Save America's Treasures Grant and the contributions of many individuals and corporations, the National Park Service began the restoration of historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. The restoration will be completed in two phases.
Phase I included design and installation of major systems including, electrical, heating and air conditioning, and fire suppression. Structural repairs were made to the roof system and the historic exterior Ebenezer sign was repaired and lit for the first time since 1990. A chair lift was installed to provide accessibility to the sanctuary. The funding for Phase I involved a private and public partnership and cost $1,885,000.
Phase II of the project will restore the appearance of the sanctuary and fellowship hall to the 1960-68 period when Dr. King served as co-pastor with his father.
Special work items include preservation of stain glass windows; restoration/replication of furnishings; repair of balcony structural system; rehabilitation of restrooms; abatement of asbestos-containing flooring; treatment of termite infestation/damage; installation of a lightning protection system; improvement of site drainage; and restoration of a sidewalk, baptistery, and pipe organ and its antiphonal.
Phase II which will begin February 2005 will be federally funded at a total project cost of $2,813,567.
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