How Chicago Became the Birthplace of Gospel Music: Inside Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church

Chicago is a renowned music town. The city is a historic hub of blues and jazz music, and it’s where house music was born. From Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock to the Smashing Pumpkins and Wilco, countless musicians honed their sound in Chicago. As a music lover, I was surprised to learn that Chicago is also the birthplace of gospel music while I was writing my books Secret Chicago and Chicago Scavenger.

Although jazz and blues were first played in the South, these musical styles made their way to Chicago in the early twentieth century during the Great Migration. Chicago became the birthplace of gospel music when blues met faith music due to one man’s personal tragedy, and you can still visit its birthplace at the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my honest recommendations, at no additional cost to you.

The Father of Gospel Music

In the 1920s, Thomas A. Dorsey was a pianist who toured with blues musicians like Ma Rainey. He suffered a tragedy while he was on tour when he lost his wife and son during childbirth. Dorsey found comfort in music, and just a month later he wrote the song “Take My Hand, Precious Lord.” With that, gospel music was born on Chicago’s South Side.

“I borrowed the moans, trills, and turns from blues and jazz, smoothed it out, changed the words of course, and I had gospel.” – Thomas A. Dorsey as told to the Chicago Tribune, 1978

This groundbreaking new musical style combined elements of Dorsey’s blues background like syncopated rhythms and lamenting vocals with religious music. Dorsey spent the rest of his career creating faith music and earned the nickname the Father of Gospel Music. He was the first African American inducted into Nashville’s Songwriters Hall of Fame after writing more than 500 songs. Dorsey also founded the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses and the first gospel music publishing company.

Want to discover other hidden places in Chicago? Check out my books Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure and Chicago Scavenger!

The World’s First Gospel Choir

In 1931, Dorsey founded the world’s first gospel choir along with director Theodore Frye at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. They trained early gospel singers who went on to become legends like Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, and Roberta Martin. Gospel music began spreading on Chicago’s South Side, and people referred to the catchy songs as “Dorseys.”

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church was the last building designed by architect and acoustic expert Dankmar Adler. It was built in 1899 as a synagogue to hold 1,200 people. The birthplace of gospel music’s barrel-vaulted ceiling still resounds with songs of joy and praise today.

Dorsey also founded the world’s second gospel choir at Pilgrim Baptist Church in 1932. He served as the director for sixty years. The church was also built as a synagogue by Adler and Sullivan in 1890. Despite suffering a fire in 2006 and storm damage in 2020, there are plans to restore the building to serve as the National Museum of Gospel Music.

Where to Experience Gospel Music History in Chicago

Over the last century, gospel has become one of the world’s most popular music genres. While this music sprung from tragedy, its message of praise and hope resounds worldwide.

“Gospel means ‘good news,’ and I wanted people to shout out their happy feelings, pat their feet, and clap their hands,” Dorsey as told to the Chicago Tribune, 1978

Visit the Birthplace of Gospel at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church

You can still visit the birthplace of gospel music in Bronzeville at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. Services are typically held on Sundays at 11 a.m. Dress however you like, and join in the music by clapping and singing along just like generations before. You can also view the services on the church’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

Sing Along at the Chicago Gospel Music Festival

Catch the Chicago Gospel Music Festival to celebrate this musical style every summer in Millennium Park. The free festival has been running since 1985 to share the power of gospel music with all ages. Grab some snacks and join fellow music lovers on the lawn at Jay Pritzker Pavilion to enjoy the music.

See Gospel Archives at the Chicago History Museum

The Chicago History Museum has several artifacts from gospel music history in its collection including Dorsey’s sheet music. You can even see the piano where Dorsey wrote the first gospel song. The collection also includes photographs like this one of Dorsey and Mahalia Jackson at her home around 1960.

How to Get to Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church

To reach Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church from downtown Chicago, head south on US-41 S/S Lake Shore Dr. Take the Oakwood Boulevard exit and continue as it turns into E. 39th St./E Pershing Rd. Turn left on left onto S. Vincennes Ave. where the church is located at the corner of Vincennes and E. 45th St.

If you’re visiting for a church service, look for a member of Ebenezer’s parking ministry wearing a vest and they will direct you to a parking space. Outside of church service hours, it’s easy to find street parking near the church.

If you want to research hotels and vacation rentals for your Chicago visit, this map can help you compare the available options. It’s set to show hotels and rentals in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood near Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, but you can view any neighborhood where you’d like to stay.

Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church
4501 S. Vincennes Ave.
Chicago, IL 60653

Sources

• Choice, Harriet. The Good News of Gospel, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 1978, www.proquest.com/.
• “ICHi-175261 Mahalia Jackson.” Chicago History Museum, Chicago Historical Society.
• “Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church (Originally, Isaiah Temple).” Chicago Landmarks, City of Chicago.
• “Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.” Landmark Designation Report, City of Chicago, 2 June 2011.
• The Father of Gospel Music, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 1980, about.proquest.com/en/products-services/hnp-usstate-collections/.
• Received by Janet Harper, CBMR Reference, Instruction & Community Engagement Librarian , 27 June 2017.
• Reed, Atavia. “Bronzeville’s Pilgrim Baptist Church Gets $2 Million to Rebuild, Create National Museum of Gospel Music.” Block Club Chicago, 17 June 2022.
• Reich, Howard. “The Birth of Gospel Music.” Chicago Tribune.