The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church is an historic church in downtown Montgomery Alabama, just steps away from the State Capitol.
History of the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church
The church traces its origins to the second half of 1877, when the congregation started meeting first on High Street, then later in a hall on Market Street formerly used as a slave trader’s pen. They purchased the current site at the beginning of 1879, using a small wooden structure on the property for meetings while they planned and constructed the sanctuary that still exists today.
Construction of the red brick church began in 1883, and the first service was held in the basement of the building in 1885. Services began in the upstairs sanctuary on Thanksgiving Day, 1889, more than 10 years after the church acquired the property where it stands.
The church operates presently under its third name. It was originally called the Second Colored Baptist Church, formed by a breakaway congregation of the “Brick-a-Day” First Baptist Church. Later the name was changed to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church because of its location on Dexter Avenue, named for Andrew Dexter, the founder of Montgomery. In 1978 the church amended its name, to the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church, in recgnition of its former Pastor and civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.
A major renovation of the church building in 1980 restored the entrance to its original style, refurbished the interior, created a mural depicting the life and struggles of Dr. Martin Luther King, and established a church library.
The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church was named a National Historic Landmark in 1974 and was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Details
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church
454 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
Telephone: +1 (334) 356-3494
Website: Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church
The church is open for public tours Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00, and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00.
Large groups please call ahead for reservations.
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