Ebenezer Baptist Church, formerly known as the Third African Baptist Church, is a prominent Black church built in 1858 and located in the Jackson Ward neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia.[1][2] The site location has a historical marker (marker SA-96).[3] It is one part of the Jackson Ward Historic District, a National Register of Historic Places-listing since July 30, 1976.[4]
History
The Ebenezer Baptist Church was built in 1858 by a congregation of some 400 people; it was an offshoot of the First African Baptist Church, which experienced issues of overcrowding.[1][5][6] It was originally named the Third African Baptist Church, but after one year the name was changed to Ebenezer Baptist Church. In 1866, Ebenezer opened the first public school for African-American children in the city of Richmond.[5] In 1883, Hartshorn Memorial College started in the basement of Ebenezer, where it existed for one year.[5] In the early 20th-century a remodel with alternations was done to the building by architect Charles Thaddeus Russell, which included the addition of a cupola with four spires.[1]
In 1865, Rev. Peter Randolph was the first African American to serve as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.[7] Rev. Richard Wells was the pastor starting in 1870 and served for 24 years, under his leadership church membership reached 1,500 parishioners.[8][9] Wells also served as the president of the Virginia Baptist State Convention.[8][9] Since 2020, Rev. Adam L. Bond is the pastor.[10]
In 2022, Ebenezer hosted the Reconnect Jackson Ward project, a public discussion and plan to reconnect the neighborhood of Jackson Ward (in an attempt of undoing the history of building Interstate 95 and redlining on the community).[11]
Notable people
Ruth B. Blair, the first African-American female police officer in Richmond[5]
Lois Harrison-Jones, the first African-American female superintendent of schools in Richmond[5]
