Renovation at Ebenezer Baptist Church

Metro Atlanta

Renovation at Ebenezer Baptist Church

Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church is beginning a large renovation.

Phil Lavallee, a carpenter with Keystone Restoration, works on the baptismal at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The historic church on Auburn Avenue, once led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., is going through a 16-month restoration.

A Keystone Restoration carpenter sits in the basement of Ebenezer Baptist reading a pamphlet on Martin Luther King Jr. during a break. Keystone, in conjunction with the National Park Service, will be restoring the church.

The original color of the sanctuary at Ebenezer Baptist has been revealed during the first month of restoration.

Herman Moore and Charles Wade, carpenters with Keystone Restoration, tear out the church baptismal pool.

The stained-glass window bearing the name of the English family is being saved and restores. The family has been members at Ebenezer for decades.

Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1980. The National Park Service, which controls the church, is rebuilding Ebenezer from the inside out. When the federally funded restoration is finished -- the target date is Jan. 9, 2009 -- the church will look like it did from 1960 until 1968, when the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was the co-pastor, alongside his father, the Rev. Martin Luther King Sr.

Martin Luther King Jr. inside Ebenezer Baptist in a undated photo.

The last official portrait taken of the entire King family. Photo was taken in the study of Ebenezer Baptist in 1966. From left are Dexter King, Yolanda King, Martin Luther King Jr., Bernice King, Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King III.

Crowds gather outside Ebenezer Baptist after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968.

Protesters demonstrating against U.S. policies in Iran outside Ebenezer Baptist in 1979.

Sen. Edward Kennedy speaks at the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist in 1979.

Martin Luther King Sr. preaching his farewell sermon at Ebenezer in 1980.

Martin Luther King Sr. stands outside Ebenezer Baptist in 1981.

Martin Luther King Sr. participates in a service in Ebenezer Baptist in 1982.

Bernice King is the youngest daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. and the current CEO of the King Center. Her mother, Coretta Scott King is an honorary member of the sorority. As are Rosa Parks and Maya Angelou.

View from the balcony of Ebenezer Baptist in 1986.

Civil Rights pioneer Rosa Parks sings at Ebenezer in 1995.

The Rev. Joseph L. Roberts Jr., senior pastor at Ebenezer Baptist in 1998.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu speaks at Ebenezer in 1999.

Joel Fox (foreground) from Ahavath Achim Synagogue and Hafiz Inayatullah during the the Faith Alliance of Metro Atlanta Commemorative Service at Ebenezer Baptist in 2003.

Ebenezer Baptist Church is at Jackson Street and Auburn Avenue.

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Phil Lavallee, a carpenter with Keystone Restoration, works on the baptismal at Ebenezer Baptist Church. The historic church on Auburn Avenue, once led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., is going through a 16-month restoration.

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