The founding of Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1886 is celebrated on this date.
Originally, it was located in a small structure on Airline Street. John A. Parker, a former slave, served as Ebenezer’s first pastor until 1894 when Alfred Daniel Williams took the position. The church was designed by black architect Wallace Rayfield in 1914. Membership increased during Williams' first year, and a larger sanctuary was erected on McGruder Street. The congregation relocated twice more before settling at 407 Auburn Avenue in 1914. Parishioners occupied the basement of this facility until its completion in 1922.
In 1931, Martin Luther King Sr. became Ebenezer's pastor; he led the congregation and community for four decades. In Atlanta's Sweet Auburn district, Ebenezer Baptist Church was the home church of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ebenezer remains socially and politically active while serving the community through various ministries. This Atlanta House of Worship is a unique Civil Rights landmark in the African American community.
The New Georgia Encyclopedia,
Main Library,
The University of Georgia,
Athens, GA 30602
Image: Dennis Behling
