Sixth Avenue Baptist Church: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:6th Avenue Baptist Church.jpg|right| | [[Image:6th Avenue Baptist rendering.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Rendering of 6th Avenue Baptist Church by W. A. Rayfield & Co.]] | ||
[[Image:6th Avenue Baptist Church.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Postcard view of 6th Avenue Baptist Church]] | |||
'''Sixth Avenue Baptist Church''' is a Baptist church located at 1101 [[Martin Luther King, Jr Drive]] in [[Southwest Birmingham]]. With over 5,000 members it is the largest black church in the city. The pastor is [[Al Sutton]]. | '''Sixth Avenue Baptist Church''' is a Baptist church located at 1101 [[Martin Luther King, Jr Drive]] in [[Southwest Birmingham]]. With over 5,000 members it is the largest black church in the city. The pastor is [[Al Sutton]]. | ||
The congregation was founded in [[Southside]] on [[June 18]], [[1881]] as the '''Second Colored Baptist Church''' largely due to the efforts of [[M. G. Kendrick]]. Its first building was constructed at at [[16th Street South|16th Street]] and [[6th Avenue South]]. (The First Colored Baptist Church, on the north side, later became [[16th Street Baptist Church]].) It hosted the 23rd session of the [[Colored Baptist Convention of Alabama]] in November [[1890]]. | The congregation was founded in [[Southside]] on [[June 18]], [[1881]] as the '''Second Colored Baptist Church''' largely due to the efforts of [[M. G. Kendrick]]. Its first building was constructed at at [[16th Street South|16th Street]] and [[6th Avenue South]]. (The First Colored Baptist Church, on the north side, later became [[16th Street Baptist Church]].) It hosted the 23rd session of the [[Colored Baptist Convention of Alabama]] in November [[1890]]. | ||
The original frame building was replaced with a masonry edifice in [[1910]]. An educational building was added adjacent to the church in [[1928]]. | The original frame building was replaced with a masonry edifice designed by noted African-American architect [[Wallace Rayfield]] in [[1910]]. The building was reported to have been constructed for $35,000. An educational building was added adjacent to the church in [[1928]]. | ||
During the [[Civil Rights Movement]] 6th Avenue Baptist hosted numerous mass meetings, as well as the joint funeral for three of the four girls killed in the [[1963 church bombing|1963 bombing]] of 16th Street Baptist Church. | During the [[Civil Rights Movement]] 6th Avenue Baptist hosted numerous mass meetings, as well as the joint funeral for three of the four girls killed in the [[1963 church bombing|1963 bombing]] of 16th Street Baptist Church. | ||
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[[Category:1910 buildings]] | [[Category:1910 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:1970 buildings]] | [[Category:1970 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:Wallace Rayfield buildings]] | |||
Revision as of 23:17, 12 February 2009
Sixth Avenue Baptist Church is a Baptist church located at 1101 Martin Luther King, Jr Drive in Southwest Birmingham. With over 5,000 members it is the largest black church in the city. The pastor is Al Sutton.
The congregation was founded in Southside on June 18, 1881 as the Second Colored Baptist Church largely due to the efforts of M. G. Kendrick. Its first building was constructed at at 16th Street and 6th Avenue South. (The First Colored Baptist Church, on the north side, later became 16th Street Baptist Church.) It hosted the 23rd session of the Colored Baptist Convention of Alabama in November 1890.
The original frame building was replaced with a masonry edifice designed by noted African-American architect Wallace Rayfield in 1910. The building was reported to have been constructed for $35,000. An educational building was added adjacent to the church in 1928.
During the Civil Rights Movement 6th Avenue Baptist hosted numerous mass meetings, as well as the joint funeral for three of the four girls killed in the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church.
In 1968 the church sold its property in the emerging Medical Center and moved to a new building, completed in 1970 on Montevallo Road.
A new Wicks pipe organ (Opus 6214) was installed at the church in 1991.
The church sponsors the 6th Avenue Baptist Child Development Center preschool program.
The church's men's chorus, dubbed the 6th Avenue Male Chorus, frequently performs for civic events and was nominated for a Birmingham Area Music Award in 2008.
Pastors
- Silas Jones (1881 - )
- T. W. Walker ( - 1891)
- J. White (1891 - 1895)
- J. Q. A. Wilhite (1895 - )
- John Goodgame (1918 - 1937)
- John Goodgame, Jr (1937 - 1962)
- John T. Porter (1962 - 2000)
- Al Sutton (2000 -)
References
- Boothe, Charles Octavius (1895) Cyclopedia of the Colored Baptists of Alabama: Their Leaders and Their Work Birmingham: Alabama Publishing Co. Documenting the American South (2001) University of North Carolina Library
- Turner, John T. and Nathan Hale Turner, Jr (2004) Keep Looking Up: The History of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, 1881-2001.
- "From early days blacks bound to the church." (December 19, 1971) Birmingham News
- Garrison, Greg (November 4, 2004) "He keeps looking up: Porter, Turner write history of largest black church in Birmingham." Birmingham News
- Resolution Commending the 125th Anniversary of the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church of Birmingham HB388, sponsored by Sonny Perdue and read on March 2, 2006
External links
- Sixth Avenue Baptist Church website