Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church - Chicago, IL - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

This building, built in 1899, originally housed a synagogue and was designed by Dankmar Adler of Adler & Sullivan. In 1921, as the neighborhood became a major destination for people coming north as part of the Great Migration, it was purchased to house Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.

According to the nomination form:

"In 1932 the first modern gospel choir is credited with having performed at the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, and with the performance came the introduction of a new type of sacred song infused with "bluesy" rhythms. Under the direction of musical pioneers Professor Theodore R. Frye, Roberta Martin, and Thomas Andrew Dorsey, himself known as the "Father of Gospel Music," Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church's groundbreaking gospel choir filled the church with this new style of American music. The introduction and enthusiastic reception of gospel music at Ebenezer played a pivotal role in transforming African American worship services and establishing the careers of such legendary singers as Mahalia Jackson, Sallie Martin, Ruth Jones and Dinah Washington." (visit link)

The Ebenezer Missionary Baptist is still a functioning faith community today.

Street address: 4501 S Vincennes Avenue Chicago, IL 60653 County / Borough / Parish: Cook Year listed: 2016 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Performing Arts, Architecture Periods of significance: 1899-1934 Historic function: Religion/Religious Facility Current function: Religion/Religious Facility Privately owned?: no Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Secondary Website 2: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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