Chicago, IL

Quinn Chapel AME Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded 1847, its the oldest African American congregation in Chicago; Bishop William Paul Quinn played a major role advancing the AME church to western states, creating a church home for ex-slaves and for abolitionists; the church is also notable for founding Provident Hospital and Wabash Avenue YMCA; among its prominent congregation was Adelbury H. Roberts, the 1st African American elected to the Illinois state senate; the current church built in 1891 is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 8a and 11a

ADDRESS: 2401 South Wabash Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near Cermak-Chinatown CTA Station

PHONE: 312-791-1846

WEBSITE: http://www.quinnchicago.org

 

Trinity United Church of Christ
DESCRIPTION: Over 7,000 members make this a dynamic spiritual church; the church maintains two senior citizen residences recognized as national models of quality low income housing, day care centers, credit union, bookstore and the Center for African Biblical Studies, 70 different ministries, and 5 choirs; former church of Senator Barack Obama and Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr.

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 7:30a, 11a, 6p

ADDRESS: 400 West 95th Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near 95th Street CTA Station

PHONE: 773-962-5650

WEBSITE: http://www.tucc.org

Olivet Baptist Church
DESCRIPTION: This edifice with well tended spires was built in 1875; before moving into this structure the church, always an activist place of worship, it became the “mother” Black Baptist church in Chicago and had one of the largest Protestant congregations in the U.S. for a time; gospel great Mahalia Jackson made her singing debut here

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10:45a

ADDRESS: 3101 South Martin Luther King Drive  MAP

TRANSIT: near 27th Street Metra Station

PHONE: 312-842-1081

WEBSITE:  http://www.olivetchurch.org

Progressive Baptist Church
DESCRIPTION: This historic church was founded in 1919, before Dan Ryan Expressway separated it from Bronzeville to the east

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11a

ADDRESS: 3658 South Wentworth Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near White Sox-35th Street CTA Station

PHONE: 773-268-6048

WEBSITE: http://progressivebaptistchurchofchicago.org

Pilgrim Baptist Church
DESCRIPTION: Built in 1890, pastor Rev. Dr. J.C. Austin, Sr. brought Dr. Thomas A. Dorsey on staff in 1932 and the famed Pilgrim Baptist Gospel Chorus was founded; Dorsey coined the term "Gospel" and is widely considered the father of Gospel music due to his lengthy resume of gospel compositions, which are the mainstays of Gospel choirs worldwide; Rev. C.L. Franklin, father of Aretha Franklin, taught aspiring gospel singers here as well; unfortunately, a fire gutted the edifice in January 2006 – it may be rebuilt

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10:45a

ADDRESS: 3301 South Indiana Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 35th-Bronzeville-IIT CTA Station

PHONE: 312-842-5830

WEBSITE: http://www.pilgrimbaptistchicago.com

First Church of Deliverance
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1929 by Rev. Clarence H. Cobbs; it is one of the first Black churches to broadcast sermons and gospel music on the radio; first church to receive a Hammond organ; with many songs like How I Got Over making there debut here, the church played a large role helping gospel music reach prominence; Walter T. Bailey designed the building, which opened in 1939; it also features murals by Fred Jones; Bailey was the city's first Black architect; another architect added the twin towers to the terra cotta facade in 1946

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11a & 7p

ADDRESS: 4301 South Wabash Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 43rd Street CTA Station

PHONE: 773-373-7700

WEBSITE: http://www.firstchurchofdeliverance.org

Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1950 the same year Pastor Clay Evans was ordained; in 1954 the church converted an old garage at 4621-23 South State Street to be its new home; Rev. Evans was one of the first Chicago ministers who publicly joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Civil Rights Movement; hampered by its activist stance, the church could not obtain sufficient bank loans to expand -- a new edifice would have to be built on tithes; what a joyous day when Evans led a 1,500 car motorcade to the church’s present location in 1966

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10:30a

ADDRESS: 4543 South Princeton Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 47th Street-Red CTA Station

PHONE: 773-373-8530

WEBSITE: http://www.fellowshipchicago.com

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1902; it is another of Chicago’s historic Black churches; recently featured in a Woodson Library exhibit; some say that that great Gospel composer Thomas A. Dorsey started here before moving to Pilgrim Baptist Church

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10:45a

ADDRESS: 4501 Vincennes Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 43rd Street CTA Station

PHONE: 773-373-6144

WEBSITE: http://embc-chicago.org

Roberts Temple COGIC
DESCRIPTION: Founded by Charles Harrison Mason in 1907, it is considered the Mother COGIC of Illinois, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin; it is also the church that hosted Emmett Till's funeral in 1955

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 11:30a

ADDRESS: 4021 South State Street  MAP

TRANSIT: near Indiana Ave CTA Station

PHONE: 773-548-4274

WEBSITE: Link

Eighth Church of Christ, Scientist
DESCRIPTION: A Romanesque-style architectural marvel built in 1910-11, this church houses one of the country's oldest African-American Christian Science congregations; the building's temple front, dome and interior design are a byproduct of the Classical Revival-style influence of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago

SUNDAY WORSHIP: TBD

ADDRESS: 4359 South Michigan Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 43rd Street CTA Station

PHONE: none

WEBSITE: none

Metropolitan Community Church
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1920 by Dr. William Decatur Cook as the Metropolitan Community Center: The Peoples Church, it was the first church in Bronzeville to welcome all religious denominations to worship; in 1927, the name was changed to the Metropolitan Community Church; the church continues to be a Christ-centered, non-denominational church

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10:30a

ADDRESS: 4610 South Prairie Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 47th-Green CTA Station

PHONE: 773-536-2046

WEBSITE:  http://www.metropolitancc1920.org

Mosque Maryam
DESCRIPTION: In 1972 the Honorable Elijah Muhammad opened this stunning Temple #2 and school as the Nation of Islam headquarters; following the 1975 death of Muhammad, the NOI took on a new direction under Imam Wallace D. Muhammad, his son; in 1977 Minister Louis Farrakhan returned to the NOI and decided to resurrect the teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad; in 1988, Temple #2 was purchased and renamed to Mosque Maryam -- after Mary, mother of Jesus; every February 26th, Minister Louis Farrakhan hosts Saviour's Day here in remembrance of his Teacher’s birthday

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10a

ADDRESS: 7351 South Stoney Island Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near Stoney Island Metra Station

PHONE: 773-324-6000

WEBSITE:  http://www.noi.org/maryam.html

Apostolic Church of God
DESCRIPTION: Thoroughly modern and one of the largest Black churches in Chicago and Bishop Arthur M. Brazier was cited as one of the Top Preachers in America by Ebony magazine and is a major leader for social change in the city; the church receives frequent international visitors; noted Gospel singer gospel vocalist Dwayne Lee also sings here frequently

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 9:10a, 11:40a, 4p

ADDRESS: 6320 South Dorchester Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: near 63rd Street Metra Station

PHONE: 773-667-1500

WEBSITE:  http://www.apostolicchurchofgod.net

West Point Missionary Baptist Church
DESCRIPTION: A member of the community for 87 years in the same location

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 8a & 10:45a

ADDRESS: 3566-72 South Cottage Grove Ave  MAP

TRANSIT: half mile from 35th-Bronzeville-IIT CTA Station

PHONE: 773-538-7590

WEBSITE:  http://www.wpmbc.org

Salem House of Hope
DESCRIPTION: This fast growing church, which emphasizes strong bible teaching and preaching, also runs a school academy and bookstore; pastor James T. Meeks is a State Senator and Vice President of Rainbow/PUSH

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 7:30a & Noon

ADDRESS: 752 East 114th Street  MAP

TRANSIT: quarter mile from Kensington Metra Station

PHONE: 773-371-2300

WEBSITE:  http://www.sbcoc.org