Project Notes
The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) established the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site in 1980. It was at Ebenezer Baptist Church that Martin Luther King Jr. was baptized, ordained and served as co-pastor with his father until 1968. In 2000, the NPS issued a report calling for the restoration of the church’s historic sanctuary windows. This restoration included the complete re-lead restoration of the stained-glass windows, and the National Park Service selected Lynchburg Stained Glass for the job. We removed, disassembled, cleaned the stained-glass windows before reassembling (re-leading) them with new lead came. We reinstalled the restored windows in December of 2009.
“Throughout its long history, Ebenezer Baptist Church, located in Atlanta, Georgia, has been a spiritual home to many citizens of the “Sweet Auburn” community. Its most famous member, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., was baptized as a child in the church. After giving a trial sermon to the congregation at Ebenezer at the age of 19 Martin was ordained as a minister. In 1960 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. became a co-pastor of Ebenezer with his father, Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., known as “Daddy” King. He remained in that position until his death in 1968. As a final farewell to his spiritual home Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s funeral was held in the church.” … US National Park Service (NPS)