BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) When times are tough, people turn to the church.  In the days following 9-11 church attendance across the country sky rocketed.  For the African American community the church has played a crucial role in transforming a way of life in the last 60 years.

For this Faith in Action report we take a look at what is often called the 'Black Church'.  We take a glimpse from a historical perspective with an eye towards the future.

The historic Sixteenth Street Baptist Church epitomizes the blend between a spiritually and socially functioning church.  Pastor Author Price leads the congregation.

When we spoke with him after a recent Sunday service he told us about the dual function of the church during it's infancy as the leading black church in Birmingham. Then in 1963 when four young girls were killed in a bombing in the church, 16th Street would take it's place on the world stage with another dual function:

St. John's African American Episcopal Church is another century's old church place of worship in Birmingham.  In it's infancy the A.M.E. Denomination fought passionately against slavery.

Pastor Evans says there is a relevant black church today that still has a responsibility to address social injustices.

In the 1960's the contemporary issue was civil rights.

16th Streets pastor says salvation has always been their mission, driven by their faith.