Wheat Street Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wheat Street Baptist Church |
|
|---|---|
Wheat Street Baptist Church (2020)
|
|
 Wheat Street Baptist Church
Location in Atlanta
Wheat Street Baptist Church
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Wheat Street Baptist Church
Location in the United States
|
|
| 33°45′19″N 84°22′32″W / 33.7551682°N 84.3756783°W | |
| Denomination | Baptist |
| History | |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | August 1921 |
Wheat Street Baptist Church is an important historic church in Atlanta, Georgia. It is located in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood. This church was founded in 1869. The building you see today was finished in 1921. It stands right next to the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park. The church is famous for its big role in the Civil Rights Movement. This was especially true when William Holmes Borders was the pastor from 1937 to 1988.
The Church's Early History
The church began in 1869. Some members of First Baptist Church in Atlanta wanted a church closer to their homes. Seven people started a new church called Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church on Howell Street. They first held services outdoors under a simple shelter.
Andrew Jackson was the church's first pastor. He led the church until 1874. The church moved a few times before settling at its current spot on Auburn Avenue. This street used to be called Wheat Street, which is how the church got its name.
In 1881, the church played a part in the Atlanta washerwomen strike. Over 500 striking workers met at the church. In 1894, the Butler Street YMCA was started in the church's basement. P. James Bryant served as the church's pastor from 1898 to 1928.
A New Building and Civil Rights
The current church building was built in August 1921. The old building was destroyed in the Great Atlanta fire of 1917. In 1932, Wheat Street hosted a meeting for the NAACP. This group works for equal rights for all people.
In 1937, William Holmes Borders became the church's pastor. He was the pastor for a very long time, until 1988. Borders became a key leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He greatly influenced a young Martin Luther King Jr.. King often listened to Borders's sermons. Also, Borders's wife had been King's English teacher.
Helping the Community
Wheat Street Baptist Church is well-known for its programs that help the community. On March 7, 1956, it became one of the first churches in the United States to start a federal credit union. It was the very first black church to do so. A credit union is like a bank, but it's owned by its members.
The church also has a charity foundation. It also helps people find housing. By 1999, the church owned a lot of property. This made it one of the wealthiest black churches in the United States.
