Ebenezer Methodist Church
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Established in 1892, Ebenezer Methodist Church was the city's first African American Methodist congregation. Today the building is home to the Greater Refuge Memorial Church, which was founded in 1976. The current church was built in 1922 in the Gothic style. The first structure was a wooden building. Greater Refuge bought the church in 1976 and had it renovated in 1990 after the city condemned the building. In 2005, hurricanes damaged the church and again the congregation had to make repairs over a period of 18 months (insurance would not pay for the repairs). The church was declared a city landmark in 2004.
Images
The former Ebeneezer Methodist Church, now home to the Greater Refuge Memorial Church, was built in 1922. Ebeneezer was the was the first African American Methodist congregation in Orlando.
Cite This Entry
Charles de Jager and Ben M.. "Ebenezer Methodist Church." Clio: Your Guide to History. April 6, 2017. Accessed July 26, 2025. https://theclio.com/entry/26372
Sources
"About Us." Greater Refuge Memorial Church. Accessed September 19, 2016. http://www.refugeorlando.com.
"Orlando’s Local Historic Landmarks." City of Orlando. Accessed September 19, 2016. http://www.cityoforlando.net/city-planning/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2015/04/Orlando-Local-Landmar...
"Orlando’s Local Historic Landmarks." City of Orlando. Accessed September 19, 2016. http://www.cityoforlando.net/city-planning/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2015/04/Orlando-Local-Landmar...