Historical marker unveiled at Atlanta’s oldest black church – WSB-TV Channel 2

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It is also the birthplace of Morris Brown College.

The Georgia Historical Society unveiled the new historical marker Sunday before its morning services.

“Driving through Atlanta, it’s hard to miss Big Bethel’s ‘Jesus Saves’ neon sign,” said Elyse Butler, programs and special projects manager, Georgia Historical Society. “While Bethel is already a recognizable part of the Atlanta skyline, this new historical marker detailing the history of Big Bethel adds a new level of understanding of the church’s history. Anyone who passes Big Bethel while walking or driving on Auburn Avenue can now learn how the church has shaped the cultural and physical landscapes of “Sweet Auburn” and the city of Atlanta for nearly 180 years.

The marker indicates:

“Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) is the oldest African American congregation in Atlanta. Organized by enslaved worshipers from the Union Church in 1847, the church joined the AME denomination in 1866. As a community center, Big Bethel hosted political rallies, benevolent societies and housed the Gate City School, a public school for African Americans. Morris Brown College was founded in Big Bethel. Architect John Anderson Lankford and builder Alexander Hamilton constructed the existing building following a fire in 1923. To help finance construction, the members wrote and produced Heaven Bound, a religious folk drama that has been performed annually since 1930. The play’s popularity introduced black theater to white audiences across the country and supported the Church during the Great Depression. Big Bethel is a landmark in Atlanta’s “Sweet Auburn” neighborhood, recognized by the “Jesus Saves” sign on the bell tower.

Erected by the Georgia Historical Society and the Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church »

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