Liberty Baptist Church | The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago

Liberty Baptist Church

There is beauty to be found in the unique shape of Liberty Baptist Church in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood. Located on King Drive, the church was built in 1956 and designed by architect William Alderman. The roof is shaped like a parabola, with red tile and red metal trim on the facade enhancing its bold aesthetic. Wooden arches serve as the building’s internal structure, while colorful stained glass windows look back at the congregation. As Lee Bey writes in Southern Exposure, Liberty Baptist Church stands out as an example of postwar modernism on a street that is otherwise mostly lined with early 20th-century buildings. Many prominent faith leaders have spoken at this church, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who visited the church multiple times, and Bishop Desmond Tutu in 1986.