Historic black church, displaced by Mercedes-Benz Stadium, has new home
An Atlanta congregation displaced by the construction of Mercedes-Benz Stadium will open its new church next weekend.
Friendship Baptist Church, a black church that dates back to 1862, held its last service at its home between Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive and Mitchell Street in May 2014. The church was demolished that July.
The church's new home is at 80 Walnut St. in Atlanta.
VIDEO: Demolition of Friendship Baptist Church
July 29, the church will hold a ribbon cutting at the space. The next day, congregants will walk from the old location to the new. They will have their first service in the new space, followed by a dedication.
Richard W. Willis, Sr., the church’s senior pastor, will be presiding. Willis is the church’s seventh pastor since its founding, 155 years ago.
In a proclamation commemorating the church, Fulton County officials said its role in black education had been unique. Spelman College had its beginning in the church basement in 1881, the proclamation said, and Morehouse College started classes there when it moved to Atlanta from Augusta two years prior.
The church will hold a community festival Sept. 9 and 10.
The AJC's Arielle Kass keeps you updated on the latest happenings in Fulton County government and politics. You'll find more on myAJC.com, including these stories:
- Grady Memorial Hospital seeks $165M for expansion
- New Fulton property assessments go out Aug. 4; some higher
- Atlanta, Fulton program aims to divert homeless people from jail
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About the Author
Arielle Kass covers Gwinnett County for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She started at the paper in 2010, and has covered business and local government beats around metro Atlanta. Arielle is a graduate of Emory University.
