Stone Temple Baptist Church

This imposing building was built as a synagogue for Jewish immigrants fleeing anti-Semitism in Romania. It was purchased less than 30 years later by an African American congregation under the leadership of Reverend J.M. Stone. As early as 1959, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke regularly at the church, and it was one of his key bases of support during the challenging 1966 Chicago Freedom Movement and fight for fair housing laws. Designed with an eclectic mix of Romanesque and Moorish-inspired details, the brick and limestone structure has many features of a traditional synagogue, including a horseshoe-shaped sanctuary, slender columns, and tapestry brick. The light-filled sanctuary with Star of David motif has been carefully maintained and preserved by the church, which successfully sought Chicago Landmark designation in 2016.