Big Bethel AME Church

Big Bethel AME Church is a Gothic-style structure on Auburn Avenue with a white illuminated cross visible from the street. The building features red brick walls, pointed arches, and sits as a focal point in the historic district.

Founded in 1847 as Union Church in Marthasville, the congregation established the first public school for Black students in Atlanta in 1879. The building thus played a key role in expanding educational access during a restrictive period.

The church served as an educational and social anchor for Black families throughout Atlanta's history. Visitors today experience how it remains deeply rooted in the community's spiritual and social fabric.

The church sits on Auburn Avenue with easy foot access and clear signage in the downtown area. Regular services take place, and information about visiting hours and programs is available on-site.

Each year the congregation performs Heaven Bound, a morality play created by church members in the early 1900s that remains a community tradition. This performance has been passed down through families and remains a distinctive local practice.

Part of: Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park

GPS coordinates: 33.75580,-84.38050

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:58