Ebenezer Baptist Church
Ebenezer Baptist Church is located a block from Martin Luther King Jr.’s birth home on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta, Georgia. This is the church building where he was baptized and where both his grandfather, Adam Daniel Williams, and his father, Martin Luther King Sr., served as pastor/co-pastor, Williams from 1894 to 1931 and King Sr. from 1927 to 1975. The church was founded in 1886, though up until 1922 when the Auburn Avenue building was completed, the congregation moved to four different locations around Atlanta.
In 1960, MLK Jr. became co-pastor with his father and remained in that position until his death in 1968. Martin’s brother, Alfred Daniel (aka A. D.), took over as co-pastor after his brother’s death until his own death in a drowning accident—perhaps brought on by heart problems—a year later. In 1974, Alberta King, Martin’s mother, and Deacon Edward Boykin were murdered inside the church during a mass shooting; three others were wounded. (Despite what 24-hour news has you believing, mass shootings are no modern invention.)
The 1922 church building remained the home of the Ebenezer Baptist congregation until a new building was completed in 1999 (this is the building located across the street and next to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Visitor Center). The historic building has been part of Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park since its inception in 1980 and was open to visitors during its operational period, but today it is strictly a historic site and museum. Visitors are welcome to stop by any time from 9 AM to 5 PM, except for when the park is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Tours are self-guided; a park Ranger is on duty inside to answer any questions.
The National Park Service renovated the building between 2001 and 2011, and today it appears as it did in the 1960s. Begin your tour at Fellowship Hall, the basement auditorium where you can read some information about the church and watch a 20-minute video interview with Christine King Farris (Martin’s sister) in which she reminisces about how the church played an important park in the lives of her family.
Fellowship Hall at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church
Upstairs is the restored Heritage Sanctuary. Visitors can stop by for a minute and take a look or spend more time sitting in the pews while listening to a sermon by MLK Jr.
Heritage Sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Alter of the Heritage Sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Rear balcony of the of the Heritage Sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist Church
Also on display is the podium that was used at the new church building from 1999 until 2018.
Podium used in the new Ebenezer Baptist Church until 2018
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
Watching the Christine King Farris interview is the most time consuming aspect of a visit to Ebenezer Baptist Church. There is not a lot of information to read in the auditorium, and time spent in the Heritage Sanctuary can range from a minute for a brief look to much longer if you sit and enjoy the audio presentation. In all, plan to spend around a half hour for your visit.
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Last updated on February 18, 2020
