Step into the heart of Chicago’s West Garfield Park neighborhood. Before you stands New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church a beacon of faith and resilience. Founded in 1950 this church has a rich history. It began its journey at 1150 West Lake Street. The congregation later moved to 1740 West Madison Avenue then to 2708 West Washington Boulevard. Finally in 1965 it found a home at 3332 West Fifth Avenue.
But the story of New Mount Pilgrim isn’t just about addresses. It’s about a community finding its voice. In 1993 the church acquired its current magnificent building. This was a former Irish Catholic parish St Mel’s. This building with its French Romanesque style stood vacant for years. New Mount Pilgrim saw an opportunity to transform this space. They didn’t just inherit a building. They inherited a history.
The transformation was profound. The original stained-glass windows depicted Caucasian biblical figures. New Mount Pilgrim decided to replace them. They wanted windows reflecting their own history heritage and aspirations. This resulted in a breathtaking trilogy of rose windows.
The Maafa Remembrance window is the most striking. It faces the Atlantic Ocean symbolizing the Middle Passage. Based on Tom Feelings’ illustration it depicts an African Christ figure. His body forms the crowded hold of a slave ship. The window is a powerful lament for the transatlantic slave trade. It’s also a testament to the enduring faith of those who survived.
Next is the North Star Great Migration window. It shows a Black family. The father lifts his child towards the North Star a beacon of hope. This represents the journeys taken by those escaping slavery and Jim Crow oppression. The roundels in its border spell out the church’s name. It features portraits of the church’s longest-serving pastors.
Finally the Sankofa Peace window embodies the Twi proverb “go back and retrieve it”. It features the Sankofa bird a symbol of learning from the past. It depicts the four girls killed in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing. It also honors Chicago youth lost to violence. The central image is Jesus as the Good Shepherd leading his flock to peace.
More than just a church New Mount Pilgrim is a community center. The MAAFA Redemption Project is a testament to this. It provides support to young Black men. It helps them break free from cycles of violence. It equips them with housing job training and educational opportunities. The project aims to empower the next generation to create a better future.
New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church is more than bricks and mortar. It is a living testament to faith resilience and the power of community. It’s a story etched in stained glass a story whispered in prayers a story lived out in the lives of its members. It’s a story waiting to be discovered.